Creative ID: 684
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
We offer a new dance programme for primary and intermediate schools. It is a fun and exciting opportunity for students to learn, perform and share a dance routine along with other New Zealand schools. It provides a safe, age appropriate and fun platform for children to participate in and enjoy the benefits of dance. It also provides a meaningful context to develop skills across key competencies. Schools have the option to utilise our teacher resources to teach Dance as part of an Arts Curriculum unit, or to add a fun dance option to daily fitness. We would like to see more schools joining our next dance challenge this year in Term 2 2022. For this year’s challenge we are very excited to be working together with E Tū Tāngata to not only bring more dance to kiwi kids but to also promote the positive message of ‘Standing Together’ and tackling tall poppy syndrome in Aotearoa. We will be using their catchy song E Tū Tāngata. YouTube links to performances are available on request.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
We have successfully run our first dance challenge in Term 3 and 4, 2021. We had over 30 schools all around New Zealand register to complete the dance challenge. Covid made things difficult for some schools but ultimately, we found that we worked really well despite Covid restrictions. We were told by many schools that their students loved being able to practice the dance routine during lockdown at home. Teachers were able to share the dance tutorial videos with their students during lockdown so the kids could practice while they were apart, and then could perform together when restrictions lifted. Both Directors are experienced teachers, one in teaching dance to all ages, and the other as a registered and experienced primary school teacher in New Zealand.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
Both Directors have worked with students of all ages. We are both passionate about bringing more dance to New Zealand schools as it offers so many benefits to students physical and mental well-being. The challenge also allows students to use their own creativity to choreograph a portion of the dance with their own moves. For 2022, we are collaborating with E Tū Tāngata to help promote more dance and tackle New Zealand's tall poppy syndrome. The dance is choreographed to E Tū Tāngata's self-titled song which contains lyrics in both English and Māori.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
We want to bring more dance to New Zealand schools because we are passionate about the benefits dance brings. Covid lockdowns coupled with rising levels of anxiety among children makes dance more valuable than ever. We believe that all children regardless of their age, location or teacher's dance ability should have the opportunity to dance. By creating a dance programme that is accessible, affordable and easy to follow, we believe we have removed these potential obstacles. A link to see students from schools all over Aotearoa, New Zealand taking is available on request.