Philosophy Paper for Creative Dance

Children’s Creative Dance
12/5/12

Inviting Students to Learn

Creative dance allows the student to explore the art of expression. We teach correct principles (technique) and let the students govern themselves (make creative choices on their own). Creative dance is a combination of the mastery of movement and the artistry of expression. Creative dance helps the students in all aspects of their lives. They learn how to solve problems, express feelings, cooperate, accept and value individual differences, and engage in activity that increases self-esteem. It is not just about lessons in dance, but rather lessons in life. It teaches the students to have self-control and self-confidence in the individual that they are.

I really connected with our class handout, ‘Teaching Children, Spiritual Aspects to Consider’. I feel as though Kathleen’s ideals on teaching coincided very deeply with my own. Right now, I am a teacher at the Missionary Training Center. In the MTC, we are encouraged to cultivate a learner-enabling environment. We teach the missionaries true doctrine, but we encourage them to self discover and be taught by the Spirit. In this method of teaching, we pose lots of inspired questions, allowing the students to search, ponder, and pray to receive revelation and insight from the perfect teacher, the Spirit. I loved the following lines in Kathleen’s handout.

“Your role as a teacher is to maximize learning and provide opportunities for all of the children you teach… Each child is important as an individual, yet you as the teacher are responsible for the whole class. Teaching with the spirit is one of the most refined aspects of true discipleship. And learning with the spirit transcends all inequality and imperfection.”

As we teach each of our students to their individual needs, it is important that we come to know how our students best learn. Instead of sticking to a curriculum, and not veering from it, we must teach for understanding. This is the way that the Savior taught. He taught people, not lessons. You would not use the same vocal cues, and movement vocabulary for a 3-year-old class, as you do a 10-year-old class. The Spirit speaks to us in a way that we, as individuals, understand.

Teaching creative dance, as opposed to other genres, really encourages us, as teachers, to use the Spirit in teaching. In a talk called, “The Worth of a Teacher” by President Thomas S. Monson, he says, “The calling of lecturer does not exist in the Church. A lecturer merely imparts knowledge. But a teacher invites class members to learn, in part by teaching one another. One sure way to transform a dull lecture into a lively, Spirit-filled lesson is by asking effective questions. Seek the Spirit to help you choose several questions for each main idea you want to teach.” The same is true with teaching creative dance. Instead of becoming a lecturer, and only focusing on imparting knowledge and technical wisdom to our students, we must invite our dancers to learn, to grow, and make creative decisions on their own. This method of teaching can begin at the age of 3, and should continue to be practiced throughout our whole lives.

As we teach our students correct technique, we cultivate a strong foundation from which creativity can spring. Jennifer McGowen of Jennifer McGowen’s Creative Dance Center said, “The creative arts help students to: gain confidence and a positive self-esteem, learn problem solving skills, make discoveries about themselves, their friends, and the world around them, learn cooperation by working together as a group, learn to respect each other’s unique style, learn spontaneity, leadership, and self-control, develop creativity, gain physical strength, flexibility, and stamina, develop good posture, balance, and coordination through dance exercises and yoga postures.

She continued to say, “Combining dance technique with the art of expression gives students the necessary tools to express their feelings through movement. Students develop dance skills, through traditional modern and ballet exercises, providing them with a strong foundation in dance technique. They develop creative skills, as they are encouraged to explore the different qualities of movement in relation to space, time, force, and flow. As they explore, they become aware of their different body parts and how they can move them, discover new ways of moving, create designs, and express feelings.”

Creative dance is truly an incredible avenue for children to begin making connections between their body, mind and spirit. Through creative dance, we are able to find that perfect balance and congruence between the mastery of movement and the artistry of expression. Our job, as teachers, is to give our students the right tools, so that they can individually express themselves in a creative way.

Works Cited

McGowen, Jennifer. "Creative Dance Center." N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.
<http://www.creative-dance.com/whatiscreativedance.html>.

Monson, Thomas S. "The Worth of a Teacher." Ensign. N.p., Apr. 2010. Web. 3 Dec.\
2012. <http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/04/the-worth-of-a
teacher?lang=eng&query=worth+teacher>.

Cited: McGowen, Jennifer. "Creative Dance Center." N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. &lt;http://www.creative-dance.com/whatiscreativedance.html&gt;. Monson, Thomas S. "The Worth of a Teacher." Ensign. N.p., Apr. 2010. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. &lt;http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/04/the-worth-of-a teacher?lang=eng&amp;query=worth+teacher&gt;.