[Applause] [Music]
what is it that actually makes education
what is it that actually makes education exciting as an educator I’m always
exciting as an educator I’m always
exciting as an educator I’m always asking these questions what can I do to
asking these questions what can I do to
asking these questions what can I do to help the students who are struggling
help the students who are struggling
help the students who are struggling with the subjects that are a little bit
with the subjects that are a little bit
with the subjects that are a little bit harder to grasp the sciences the maths
harder to grasp the sciences the maths
harder to grasp the sciences the maths how can we create systems so that they
how can we create systems so that they
how can we create systems so that they will be extremely excited about learning
will be extremely excited about learning
will be extremely excited about learning these subjects because if they’re
these subjects because if they’re
these subjects because if they’re excited about learning these subjects
excited about learning these subjects
excited about learning these subjects then they could see a future in these
then they could see a future in these
then they could see a future in these disciplines for careers it’s interesting
disciplines for careers it’s interesting
disciplines for careers it’s interesting because I feel in education we’ve gotten
because I feel in education we’ve gotten
because I feel in education we’ve gotten really strong at trying to grow skills
really strong at trying to grow skills
really strong at trying to grow skills with technology with really strong
with technology with really strong
with technology with really strong research really understanding how to
research really understanding how to
research really understanding how to deepen our knowledge bases with the
deepen our knowledge bases with the
deepen our knowledge bases with the children but as I look around I keep
children but as I look around I keep
children but as I look around I keep saying are we building just as strong
saying are we building just as strong
saying are we building just as strong empathy tolerance the ability for the
empathy tolerance the ability for the
empathy tolerance the ability for the students to actually be comfortable in
students to actually be comfortable in
students to actually be comfortable in their bodies to be physical and
their bodies to be physical and
their bodies to be physical and ultimately for them to be just
ultimately for them to be just
ultimately for them to be just comfortable in their skin it’s really
comfortable in their skin it’s really
comfortable in their skin it’s really curious and especially in this day and
curious and especially in this day and
curious and especially in this day and age and when I look around at all the
age and when I look around at all the
age and when I look around at all the issues all the issues that we’re facing
issues all the issues that we’re facing
issues all the issues that we’re facing in this country it continues to remind
in this country it continues to remind
in this country it continues to remind myself about that importance the
myself about that importance the
myself about that importance the importance of allowing ourselves to
importance of allowing ourselves to
importance of allowing ourselves to realize that we’re not just building
realize that we’re not just building
realize that we’re not just building smart students but we’re building
smart students but we’re building
smart students but we’re building students who could understand global
students who could understand global
students who could understand global thinking can respect a body that looks
thinking can respect a body that looks
thinking can respect a body that looks different than theirs can actually
different than theirs can actually
different than theirs can actually dialogue and have differences in opinion
dialogue and have differences in opinion
dialogue and have differences in opinion and not have to actually have it break
and not have to actually have it break
and not have to actually have it break down into an argument figure out how to
down into an argument figure out how to
down into an argument figure out how to actually collectively and creatively
actually collectively and creatively
actually collectively and creatively problem-solve and then get the task done
problem-solve and then get the task done
problem-solve and then get the task done this is what I’d love to see an
this is what I’d love to see an
this is what I’d love to see an education because this is where I think
education because this is where I think
education because this is where I think our democracy is based on
our democracy is based on
our democracy is based on it’s interesting when I look at dance
it’s interesting when I look at dance
it’s interesting when I look at dance and education the educational practices
and education the educational practices
and education the educational practices over the past four decades and I look at
over the past four decades and I look at
over the past four decades and I look at where the arts had a place very
where the arts had a place very
where the arts had a place very essentially in our 70s in our 80s you
essentially in our 70s in our 80s you
essentially in our 70s in our 80s you might not know it I actually went to
might not know it I actually went to
might not know it I actually went to school in the 70s right and I remember
school in the 70s right and I remember
school in the 70s right and I remember when I was in the 70s arts were part of
when I was in the 70s arts were part of
when I was in the 70s arts were part of the curriculum it wasn’t a separate
the curriculum it wasn’t a separate
the curriculum it wasn’t a separate thing that you went to dance or music no
thing that you went to dance or music no
thing that you went to dance or music no no no no as we learned about science and
no no no as we learned about science and
no no no as we learned about science and math we had a piano in most of our
math we had a piano in most of our
math we had a piano in most of our schools in most of our classrooms we
schools in most of our classrooms we
schools in most of our classrooms we would sing about it we would draw about
would sing about it we would draw about
would sing about it we would draw about it we would dance about it we actually
it we would dance about it we actually
it we would dance about it we actually got up and we created plays about it
got up and we created plays about it
got up and we created plays about it this was just normal this wasn’t what we
this was just normal this wasn’t what we
this was just normal this wasn’t what we call today arts integration in the 70s
call today arts integration in the 70s
call today arts integration in the 70s and 80s we just called it good quality
and 80s we just called it good quality
and 80s we just called it good quality teaching all right and I have to say
teaching all right and I have to say
teaching all right and I have to say what did it do for me I’m a dancer but
what did it do for me I’m a dancer but
what did it do for me I’m a dancer but I’m still in school I just finished my
I’m still in school I just finished my
I’m still in school I just finished my last fourth degree when the arts were
last fourth degree when the arts were
last fourth degree when the arts were part of my education right I loved
part of my education right I loved
part of my education right I loved school I could not wait to get there
school I could not wait to get there
school I could not wait to get there yeah specifically for the academics I
yeah specifically for the academics I
yeah specifically for the academics I loved that but because of all of the
loved that but because of all of the
loved that but because of all of the other interactive activities all the
other interactive activities all the
other interactive activities all the multiple intelligences different ways
multiple intelligences different ways
multiple intelligences different ways that I could show that I could be
that I could show that I could be
that I could show that I could be physical I could sing I could act I
physical I could sing I could act I
physical I could sing I could act I could speak and I could also write this
could speak and I could also write this
could speak and I could also write this to me is paramount in our educational
to me is paramount in our educational
to me is paramount in our educational systems I think about that and I keep
systems I think about that and I keep
systems I think about that and I keep wondering about the last 20 years and I
wondering about the last 20 years and I
wondering about the last 20 years and I see the differences that I’m seeing in
see the differences that I’m seeing in
see the differences that I’m seeing in students as we have pulled the arts out
students as we have pulled the arts out
students as we have pulled the arts out yeah and the ability to actually
yeah and the ability to actually
yeah and the ability to actually collaborate communicate to actually
collaborate communicate to actually
collaborate communicate to actually critically think rather than just giving
critically think rather than just giving
critically think rather than just giving you a row answer 1 2 3 this is the kind
you a row answer 1 2 3 this is the kind
you a row answer 1 2 3 this is the kind of education that I’m really interested
of education that I’m really interested
of education that I’m really interested in doing luckily I run a company I’m a
in doing luckily I run a company I’m a
in doing luckily I run a company I’m a director of a dance company here in DC
director of a dance company here in DC
director of a dance company here in DC and we not only work with kids we do
and we not only work with kids we do
and we not only work with kids we do education for all ages
education for all ages
education for all ages seniors college students non-dancers
seniors college students non-dancers
seniors college students non-dancers dancers and in all of our classes even
dancers and in all of our classes even
dancers and in all of our classes even if we’re teaching dance
if we’re teaching dance
if we’re teaching dance we know that simultaneously it’s just as
we know that simultaneously it’s just as
we know that simultaneously it’s just as important to build the individual
important to build the individual
important to build the individual so I would say this whatever class that
so I would say this whatever class that
so I would say this whatever class that I’m teaching the first thing there’s
I’m teaching the first thing there’s
I’m teaching the first thing there’s four tenets that we usually use the
four tenets that we usually use the
four tenets that we usually use the first is respect
first is respect
first is respect we encourage respect and respect for the
we encourage respect and respect for the
we encourage respect and respect for the body right you have to have that as a
body right you have to have that as a
body right you have to have that as a dancer to survive but we also say that
dancer to survive but we also say that
dancer to survive but we also say that especially with kids because if kids can
especially with kids because if kids can
especially with kids because if kids can respect themselves then there’s a chance
respect themselves then there’s a chance
respect themselves then there’s a chance that they can respect somebody else we
that they can respect somebody else we
that they can respect somebody else we bring this and we really teach it to
bring this and we really teach it to
bring this and we really teach it to kids because this is the key when we’re
kids because this is the key when we’re
kids because this is the key when we’re talking about anti-bullying and building
talking about anti-bullying and building
talking about anti-bullying and building tolerance figuring out how to build
tolerance figuring out how to build
tolerance figuring out how to build self-esteem respect for yourself when
self-esteem respect for yourself when
self-esteem respect for yourself when you feel respected and you are built in
you feel respected and you are built in
you feel respected and you are built in your self esteem you can respect people
your self esteem you can respect people
your self esteem you can respect people around you and then you could respect
around you and then you could respect
around you and then you could respect the environment and realize how
the environment and realize how
the environment and realize how important the environment and the earth
important the environment and the earth
important the environment and the earth is for all of us
is for all of us
is for all of us to survive the next thing we talk about
to survive the next thing we talk about
to survive the next thing we talk about is relevance and this is an education
is relevance and this is an education
is relevance and this is an education kids are not going to be interested
kids are not going to be interested
kids are not going to be interested adults are not going to be interested
adults are not going to be interested
adults are not going to be interested I’m telling you I have four degrees PhD
I’m telling you I have four degrees PhD
I’m telling you I have four degrees PhD students are not going to be interested
students are not going to be interested
students are not going to be interested in content matter that is not relevant
in content matter that is not relevant
in content matter that is not relevant to what their daily lives are doing
to what their daily lives are doing
to what their daily lives are doing what’s happening in their daily lives
what’s happening in their daily lives
what’s happening in their daily lives how we’ve been relevant in whether it’s
how we’ve been relevant in whether it’s
how we’ve been relevant in whether it’s a senior’s
a senior’s
a senior’s or whether it’s little kids and classes
or whether it’s little kids and classes
or whether it’s little kids and classes or college students we’re really clear
or college students we’re really clear
or college students we’re really clear that we talk their language that we meet
that we talk their language that we meet
that we talk their language that we meet them on their turf that we make sure
them on their turf that we make sure
them on their turf that we make sure that we understand what’s valuable to
that we understand what’s valuable to
that we understand what’s valuable to them and we meet those values we know
them and we meet those values we know
them and we meet those values we know that we may have different values but we
that we may have different values but we
that we may have different values but we start there we build that respect and
start there we build that respect and
start there we build that respect and then once we have that respect to show
then once we have that respect to show
then once we have that respect to show them that we understand where they’re
them that we understand where they’re
them that we understand where they’re coming from then we can actually then
coming from then we can actually then
coming from then we can actually then start to negotiate collaborate and
start to negotiate collaborate and
start to negotiate collaborate and figure out how we can bring in new
figure out how we can bring in new
figure out how we can bring in new influences and actually have greater
influences and actually have greater
influences and actually have greater thinking in braids or great braids or
thinking in braids or great braids or
thinking in braids or great braids or brainstorming that could bring us to
brainstorming that could bring us to
brainstorming that could bring us to other ideas in addition to relevance and
other ideas in addition to relevance and
other ideas in addition to relevance and respect the other thing is it’s just has
respect the other thing is it’s just has
respect the other thing is it’s just has to be fun if it’s not fun who wants to
to be fun if it’s not fun who wants to
to be fun if it’s not fun who wants to go to school right
go to school right
go to school right I mean dishes right if dishes aren’t fun
I mean dishes right if dishes aren’t fun
I mean dishes right if dishes aren’t fun who wants to do the dishes you got to
who wants to do the dishes you got to
who wants to do the dishes you got to find some fun inside of it and this is
find some fun inside of it and this is
find some fun inside of it and this is the last thing that I would say that
the last thing that I would say that
the last thing that I would say that it’s super super important in our 21st
it’s super super important in our 21st
it’s super super important in our 21st century as we are getting so strong
century as we are getting so strong
century as we are getting so strong again within our
again within our
again within our texting our cellphones our Facebook’s
texting our cellphones our Facebook’s
texting our cellphones our Facebook’s right so important that these kids are
right so important that these kids are
right so important that these kids are actually learning with the arts and I
actually learning with the arts and I
actually learning with the arts and I really feel I’m a dancer so I’m a little
really feel I’m a dancer so I’m a little
really feel I’m a dancer so I’m a little biased
biased
biased dance in particular you cannot do it
dance in particular you cannot do it
dance in particular you cannot do it with your cell phone in your hand you
with your cell phone in your hand you
with your cell phone in your hand you have to put it down you have to look at
have to put it down you have to look at
have to put it down you have to look at somebody else you have to interact yeah
somebody else you have to interact yeah
somebody else you have to interact yeah and this is what’s amazing for me when
and this is what’s amazing for me when
and this is what’s amazing for me when you see different bodies different minds
you see different bodies different minds
you see different bodies different minds different ideas kids working together
different ideas kids working together
different ideas kids working together creating amazing dances yeah working
creating amazing dances yeah working
creating amazing dances yeah working together in a way that I keep hoping and
together in a way that I keep hoping and
together in a way that I keep hoping and wishing that we could see happen in
wishing that we could see happen in
wishing that we could see happen in different fields within our entire
different fields within our entire
different fields within our entire United States as we continue to see this
United States as we continue to see this
United States as we continue to see this progress with the kids it’s really
progress with the kids it’s really
progress with the kids it’s really amazing to me and I know there’s many
amazing to me and I know there’s many
amazing to me and I know there’s many different ways that we teach but I’ve
different ways that we teach but I’ve
different ways that we teach but I’ve actually been invited here and speaks
actually been invited here and speaks
actually been invited here and speaks specifically about arts integration arts
specifically about arts integration arts
specifically about arts integration arts integration just in case you’re not sure
integration just in case you’re not sure
integration just in case you’re not sure what that is is when you teach an art
what that is is when you teach an art
what that is is when you teach an art concept balance with an academic subject
concept balance with an academic subject
concept balance with an academic subject so it’s not that it’s in service of the
so it’s not that it’s in service of the
so it’s not that it’s in service of the academic subject it’s that you’re
academic subject it’s that you’re
academic subject it’s that you’re learning just about the arts just as
learning just about the arts just as
learning just about the arts just as much as an artist would whether it’s
much as an artist would whether it’s
much as an artist would whether it’s visual arts Dramatic Arts dance arts as
visual arts Dramatic Arts dance arts as
visual arts Dramatic Arts dance arts as well as you’re learning those academic
well as you’re learning those academic
well as you’re learning those academic concepts and again as we do that I’m
concepts and again as we do that I’m
concepts and again as we do that I’m going to give you a very specific
going to give you a very specific
going to give you a very specific example again I’m a dancer I’ve been
example again I’m a dancer I’ve been
example again I’m a dancer I’ve been asked to teach but I do have to say
asked to teach but I do have to say
asked to teach but I do have to say dancers are concrete and we are really
dancers are concrete and we are really
dancers are concrete and we are really action-oriented what I’m going to show
action-oriented what I’m going to show
action-oriented what I’m going to show you very specifically in this next
you very specifically in this next
you very specifically in this next example is taking like these two ideas
example is taking like these two ideas
example is taking like these two ideas that I talked to about we’re going to
that I talked to about we’re going to
that I talked to about we’re going to highlight an earth and space science
highlight an earth and space science
highlight an earth and space science residency what you’re going to see
residency what you’re going to see
residency what you’re going to see inside of that in terms of trying to
inside of that in terms of trying to
inside of that in terms of trying to make it relevant right we worked a lot
make it relevant right we worked a lot
make it relevant right we worked a lot in terms of the earth rotating on its
in terms of the earth rotating on its
in terms of the earth rotating on its axis right now I’m not sure if any of
axis right now I’m not sure if any of
axis right now I’m not sure if any of you remember that from your fifth grade
you remember that from your fifth grade
you remember that from your fifth grade curriculum right and many of the kids
curriculum right and many of the kids
curriculum right and many of the kids are like who cares if the Earth rotates
are like who cares if the Earth rotates
are like who cares if the Earth rotates on its axis yeah so we also have to
on its axis yeah so we also have to
on its axis yeah so we also have to figure out the access of 23.5 degrees
figure out the access of 23.5 degrees
figure out the access of 23.5 degrees physically how do we have them do that
physically how do we have them do that
physically how do we have them do that I’m going to ask you guys can you all
I’m going to ask you guys can you all
I’m going to ask you guys can you all make a right angle in your arms bingo
make a right angle in your arms bingo
make a right angle in your arms bingo can I see the right angles do we know
can I see the right angles do we know
can I see the right angles do we know what right angles are yes half of 90
what right angles are yes half of 90
what right angles are yes half of 90 degrees is 45 can we do a 45 degree
degrees is 45 can we do a 45 degree
degrees is 45 can we do a 45 degree angle
angle
angle you’re awesome half a 45 is twenty two
you’re awesome half a 45 is twenty two
you’re awesome half a 45 is twenty two point five
point five
point five yes I’m not sure if you know this but
yes I’m not sure if you know this but
yes I’m not sure if you know this but the earth’s tilt is actually 23.5 so
the earth’s tilt is actually 23.5 so
the earth’s tilt is actually 23.5 so let’s do one little degree boom 23.5 and
let’s do one little degree boom 23.5 and
let’s do one little degree boom 23.5 and then we have the kids figure out what is
then we have the kids figure out what is
then we have the kids figure out what is this axis right oh can you make another
this axis right oh can you make another
this axis right oh can you make another axis okay then they understand what
axis okay then they understand what
axis okay then they understand what twenty-three point five degrees is when
twenty-three point five degrees is when
twenty-three point five degrees is when you’re talking about the tilt of the
you’re talking about the tilt of the
you’re talking about the tilt of the earth right and it rotates can they
earth right and it rotates can they
earth right and it rotates can they start to turn right and then what we
start to turn right and then what we
start to turn right and then what we start to do is say turning is fun
start to do is say turning is fun
start to do is say turning is fun but we have a lot of different cultures
but we have a lot of different cultures
but we have a lot of different cultures in our room so we start to make it
in our room so we start to make it
in our room so we start to make it relevant this is how a ballerina
relevant this is how a ballerina
relevant this is how a ballerina does a pirouette they figure out their
does a pirouette they figure out their
does a pirouette they figure out their axis and they do a really clear rotation
axis and they do a really clear rotation
axis and they do a really clear rotation on their axis an ice skater the same
on their axis an ice skater the same
on their axis an ice skater the same thing our b-boys our breakers to spin on
thing our b-boys our breakers to spin on
thing our b-boys our breakers to spin on their heads they’ve got to find that
their heads they’ve got to find that
their heads they’ve got to find that axis yeah that brings in our whole
axis yeah that brings in our whole
axis yeah that brings in our whole different population of kids that all of
different population of kids that all of
different population of kids that all of a sudden you’re talking b-boys you’re
a sudden you’re talking b-boys you’re
a sudden you’re talking b-boys you’re talking rat I’m going to think about
talking rat I’m going to think about
talking rat I’m going to think about Earth and science and rotation relevant
Earth and science and rotation relevant
Earth and science and rotation relevant yeah as they’re going through we’ve been
yeah as they’re going through we’ve been
yeah as they’re going through we’ve been lucky and nothing I have to say this
lucky and nothing I have to say this
lucky and nothing I have to say this just for an experiment for you we’ve had
just for an experiment for you we’ve had
just for an experiment for you we’ve had two hours over the past two weeks yeah
two hours over the past two weeks yeah
two hours over the past two weeks yeah with amazing fifth graders from sted
with amazing fifth graders from sted
with amazing fifth graders from sted wick elementary who have come to join us
wick elementary who have come to join us
wick elementary who have come to join us to show you that literally in two hours
to show you that literally in two hours
to show you that literally in two hours and this was for 30-minute sessions over
and this was for 30-minute sessions over
and this was for 30-minute sessions over a period of two weeks so a lot of space
a period of two weeks so a lot of space
a period of two weeks so a lot of space in between how much and they didn’t know
in between how much and they didn’t know
in between how much and they didn’t know anything about the science that that
anything about the science that that
anything about the science that that curriculum they hadn’t learned it yet
curriculum they hadn’t learned it yet
curriculum they hadn’t learned it yet nor unless they took dance lessons they
nor unless they took dance lessons they
nor unless they took dance lessons they know about dance in two hours we’d love
know about dance in two hours we’d love
know about dance in two hours we’d love to show you what they learned so I’d
to show you what they learned so I’d
to show you what they learned so I’d love to an invite our stetic elementary
love to an invite our stetic elementary
love to an invite our stetic elementary stars to come on
and in the dance that you’re going to do
and in the dance that you’re going to do I talked a little bit about rotation
I talked a little bit about rotation
I talked a little bit about rotation right we’ve also talked a little bit
right we’ve also talked a little bit
right we’ve also talked a little bit about energy in the Sun and how the Sun
about energy in the Sun and how the Sun
about energy in the Sun and how the Sun gives off energy we talked about how the
gives off energy we talked about how the
gives off energy we talked about how the Earth revolves around the Sun and that
Earth revolves around the Sun and that
Earth revolves around the Sun and that takes a full year in a calendar and that
takes a full year in a calendar and that
takes a full year in a calendar and that creates the seasons yeah we also talked
creates the seasons yeah we also talked
creates the seasons yeah we also talked a little bit about gravity and
a little bit about gravity and
a little bit about gravity and anti-gravity so I’m hoping that you can
anti-gravity so I’m hoping that you can
anti-gravity so I’m hoping that you can see some of these concepts in the dance
see some of these concepts in the dance
see some of these concepts in the dance that we created enjoy
[Music]
[Music] energy from the Sun talking about
energy from the Sun talking about
energy from the Sun talking about different types of energy and friction
different types of energy and friction
different types of energy and friction what can you do with that energy where
what can you do with that energy where
what can you do with that energy where does it go how can you toss it how can
does it go how can you toss it how can
does it go how can you toss it how can you gather it 22.5 are they hitting it
you gather it 22.5 are they hitting it
you gather it 22.5 are they hitting it 23.5 right on it baby they got it yes
23.5 right on it baby they got it yes
23.5 right on it baby they got it yes [Music]
we talked a bit about the earth being
we talked a bit about the earth being addressed real planet reddit rescue a
addressed real planet reddit rescue a
addressed real planet reddit rescue a planet is made of rocks to keep some
planet is made of rocks to keep some
planet is made of rocks to keep some rocks there
rocks there
rocks there we also talked about this special that
we also talked about this special that
we also talked about this special that we have liquid water you see some liquid
we have liquid water you see some liquid
we have liquid water you see some liquid water to the dancers Mercury Venus Earth
water to the dancers Mercury Venus Earth
water to the dancers Mercury Venus Earth and Mars
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
awesome awesome you guys really awesome
awesome awesome you guys really awesome and just as a final note I just hope
and just as a final note I just hope
and just as a final note I just hope that you saw not only the dance concepts
that you saw not only the dance concepts
that you saw not only the dance concepts not only the science concepts but what
not only the science concepts but what
not only the science concepts but what is really and I think in this time and
is really and I think in this time and
is really and I think in this time and especially within the next few months
especially within the next few months
especially within the next few months that we really see these kids different
that we really see these kids different
that we really see these kids different bodies different minds different
bodies different minds different
bodies different minds different cultures working together in a very
cultures working together in a very
cultures working together in a very short amount of time having tons of fun
short amount of time having tons of fun
short amount of time having tons of fun getting together and really making a
getting together and really making a
getting together and really making a collective dance just like we would love
collective dance just like we would love
collective dance just like we would love to see in the USA as a true democracy
to see in the USA as a true democracy
to see in the USA as a true democracy thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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