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Children's Creative Movement Collaboration
FREE Creative Movement/Dance Class
Taught by UNM Dance MFA Graduate Student
Ashley Miller

Starting January 28th-March 8th
For Ages 9-11
Class meets twice weekly:  Saturdays 1:00-2:15p.m. & Wednesdays
4:00-5:15p.m.
Carlisle Gym, UNM Campus
No previous dance experience required
This class is part of a dissertation research study and will conclude
with the children creating a final creative dance together and
performing it in a MFA Dance Concert March 6th-8th 2009.
Parents and their children will be asked to sign consent/assent forms
upon agreeing to participate in this study.  The performance will be
taped for archival purposes and parents will also be asked to sign a
release for The UNM Department of Theatre and Dance to use photos from
the concert in Departmental publicity.

For more information please contact:
Ashley Miller (Instructor)
(319)-290-9284 or ashmill@unm.edu
Jennifer Predock-Linnell (Graduate Dance Advisor)
(505)-277-3606 or jplinnel@unm.edu

Syllabus attached.  Please forward to anyone you think might be
interested!  Thank you!

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UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE
Children’s Creative Dance Collaboration
9-11 yr. olds
Wednesdays & Saturdays/Spring 2009 4:00-5:15pm & 1:00-2:15pm;
UNM Campus, Carlisle Gym, South Arena

Instructor:  Ashley Miller (UNM Dance MFA Graduate Student)
E-mail:  ashmill@unm.edu
Phone:  (319)-290-9284 (cell)

Scope of the Class:
This class is part of my dissertation research project entitled, “The benefits of creative dance on the social development and self-esteem growth of 9-11 year old children:  a field study.”  The purpose and aim of this research is to prove that dance can be used as a means of expression and communication for young people.  Creating dance and movement provides young children the opportunity to make individual responses to their world, and because of its expressive and creative nature, dance stands apart from other physical activities.  I feel that dance should be acknowledged and is instrumental in developing young people’s creative and artistic, personal and social skills.  As a physical activity, dance may also impact positively on fitness, health, and wellbeing.  I want my research to suggest and reinforce that physical activity can have a positive effect on physical fitness and general psychological well-being and social skills of a child.  For example, studies have shown that physical activity increases lung function, flexibility, and aerobic capacity.  In addition, various psychological benefits, such as self-esteem, have also been enhanced.
     While the benefits of sports activities are well documented, the potential benefits of dance in this regard are less well known.  Although dance educators are aware of these possible benefits, much of this knowledge is anecdotal rather than evidence based.  There is, therefore, an increasing demand from dance providers relating to the potential physiological and/or psychological benefits of dance.  This study intends to provide some evidence in relation to creative dance, as well as to educate and inspire young people, and to provide an opportunity for them to experience and enjoy dance as both a creative art form and physical activity.  In addition to my written Dissertation that will include my research data, I will present an MFA concert, which will take place on March 6, 7, 8th 2009.  This concert will include a performance of a piece that the children in this study will create collaboratively in culmination of the field study.    

Course Objectives:  
Students will be introduced to the elements of dance and movement (i.e. time, space, energy, level, shape, etc.) and guided in active exploration and experimentation of these elements and how to use them creatively for artistic expression.  By the 6 weeks, the children will work together to create a short dance piece that they will perform in my final MFA concert.  I intend to measure their growth and experiences through pre and post self-esteem and intrinsic motivation tests/inventories, creative drawing responses and individual interviews.  I will record these findings in a journal and keep individual files for each student to store their work.  I may use an audio recorder to record their verbal responses and later record them in writing.  I plan to use a video recorder to capture how the children are working together and as a teaching tool so they are able to play the tape back to watch and evaluate themselves.  

Clothing:
Students should wear clothing that allows freedom of movement and allows the instructor to see the line of the body.  Fitted clothing is best.  For girls, athletic/yoga wear, leotards, tights/leggings and shorts are acceptable.  For boys, fitted tank tops and t-shirts are acceptable, along with leggings, shorts, or fitted sweatpants.  Students will dance in bare feet and should remove large or hanging jewelry and hats prior to class. Hair should be secured back and away from the face.  Glasses should be secured to prevent injury.  There is no gum chewing or eating allowed during class, but plastic water bottles with caps may be brought into the room.  Please also bring your journal to every class.

Calendar:

Saturday, January 24th       Individual Meetings for Questions & Consent Form Signing
Wednesday, January 28th     Class #1
Saturday, January 31st     Class #2
Wednesday, February 4th     Class #3
Saturday, February 7th     Class #4
Wednesday February 11th      Class #5
Saturday, February 14th      Class #6
Wednesday, February 18th      Class #7
Saturday, February 21st       Class #8
Wednesday, February 25th      Class #9
Saturday, February 28th      Class #10
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday March 2-5th - Tech Rehearsals (details to come)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday March 6, 7, 8th - Performance @ 7:30 p.m. on the 6th/7th & 2:00 pm on the 8th

** For Sat., January 24th, please email me your preference on a time slot in which you and your child/children would like to come to Carlisle to sign consent forms and to have the students fill out pre- self-esteem evaluations, etc.  I will also give each student a journal on that day for them to bring to each class.  
1:00-1:30
1:30-2:00
2:00-2:30
2:30-3:00
3:00-3:30

**At the conclusion of the performance on Sunday, March 8th there will be a small reception and I will have the students fill out their post inventories, evaluations, etc. and collect their journals.