sharing, educating, impacting... since 1985

Arts-in-Education: In-School and After-School Partnerships

It is important for children to dance "because dance helps you develop your body and your mind."  - Charles Salino, Grade 5, P.S. 127

The Beacon I.S. 220 (Pershing) Community Program is a year-long tuition-free dance program held at I.S. 220 located at 49th Street & 9th Avenue in Brooklyn.  The Program is a collaboration between YDR, I.S. 220, the Chinese-American Planning Council, Hispanic Young People’s Alternatives (HYPA), and Project Reach Youth (PRY).  YDR offers after-school classes during the school year and a full-day Summer Intensive program that meets four days per week, offering classes in dance, music and visual art for ages 7–14.  Specific course offerings include: modern dance, creative movement, folkloric/International dance, language arts reinforcement, and choreography.   

 

 

 

Learning Through Dance In-School Residency Program
YDR's artist/educators work with classroom teachers to develop grade-appropriate lesson plans which support and enhance academic curriculum, based on the New York Standards. Through dance, students study literacy, literature, global studies, history, and science. In school year 2007-2008, YDR is providing residencies in 13 different schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  

   Professional Development
YDR's artist/educators provide professional development sessions to public school teachers to help integrate dance into academic curriculum. Classroom teachers learn to teach academics utilizing the arts, thereby creating active, participatory education for students. Professional development sessions are planned for 14 sites in all five boroughs in 2007-2008. 

 

"I think children should learn to dance because when the next generation comes, they can teach each other." - Victor Eng, Grade 5, P.S. 186

  

In-School Assembly Programs
Educational dance performances with lecture demonstrations are given at school locations by YDR professionals. These performances are narrated and explained for artistic and educational value and include audience participation and teacher study guides.

       School-Time Performances in NYC Theaters
YDR invites K-12 audiences to theaters for special School-Time Performances. These educational and entertaining dance performances are an expanded version of In-School Assembly Programs. In May 2003, students from three schools traveled to the Brooklyn Music School Theater for a performance by YDR's professional company, Dance Consort.

Community Partnerships: After-School Programs
YDR offers educational dance programs after school through various community organizations, social service organizations, and schools. Our current Community Partners include, PASE (The Partnership for After School Education), TASC (The After School Corporation) (residencies at PS 205, PS 160, PS 48 and PS 186), the Chinese-American Planning Council at Beacon IS 220 (Pershing) Community Program, the Heartshare Beacon at McKinley Intermediate School, the Heartshare Bensonhurst After-school Program at St. Finbar's, and the Lutheran Elementary After School Program. 


For more information on YDR's Arts Education Programs call us at (347) 702-7155 or email us at ydr@youngdancersinrep.org  

 

YDR's Learning Through Dance Program at PS 105 is supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts.

YDR's School Partnerships are supported, in part, by Health Plus.

Professional Development for After School Programs

 

Dance Consort performing Charles Weidman's Bargain Counter in a School-Time Performance

Photo by Jim Williams