Dance Track
Workshop A: 10:00-11:30 am
Musical Theatre Dance: Creating Choreography (J/I/S)
Workshop Description: We all know that good choreography comes from the manipulation of the most basic elements of dance: time, space, and energy. In this workshop we will explore choreography and how you can help your students realize that well-crafted choreography is much more than the simple orchestration of mechanical elements. This workshop will provide you with tips, tricks and exercises that you can take back to your classroom to help your students think about choreography differently. We will explore all aspects of choreography from how staging can change the feel of the piece and help direct the focus of the audience to creating organic movement. This session will include some hands-on exercises as well as a scheduled time for questions and answers toward the end.
Kristyn Wiklanski
kwiklanski@stclaircollege.ca
https://www.stclaircollege.ca/performing-arts/music-theatre
Originally from Tecumseh, Ontario, Kristyn is thrilled to be a part of this year's CODE on the road conference. Kristyn is a graduate of the Los Angeles’ Performing Arts Center Dance Program and is currently the Program Coordinator for the St. Clair College Music Theatre Performance Program. Kristyn has performed all over the world including the U.S.A., Canada and Brazil while playing Cassandra in “The 20th Anniversary Tour of Cats.” She also performed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg while dancing with the European Tour of “Grease the Musical.” However, Kristyn’s most prestigious credit is a 3-time member of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes. She has sailed the seven seas with Celebrity Cruises, was a featured dancer on the TV series “Ally McBeal,” and was part of the skeleton crew for several Disney animated movies such as “Jungle Book 2” and “Disney’s Carol of the Bells.” Kristyn has now turned her attention to teaching and choreographing with credits of: Cabaret, Oklahoma, The Drowsy Chaperone, 42nd Street, Pajama Game, Cinderella, Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes, West Side Story, Chicago, Big Fish, Jesus Christ Superstar, Shrek and the yearly St. Clair College Holiday show. Kristyn’s love for educating and inspiring drives her to continue teaching, choreographing and encouraging young dancers around the world.
Workshop B: 12:30pm-2pm
Elements of Dance: Dynamic Spelling Bee (P/J/I/S)
Workshop Description: This workshop will be engaging from start to finish. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and apply all 5 Elements of Dance through an accessible creative process involving the Alphabet. This workshop is scaffolded in a way that allows for independent and collaborative learning to take place. This workshop is a fan favourite because the Alphabet is something so simple and familiar and does not require any dance experience or prior knowledge of dance movement skills or curriculum expectations. Participants will leave feeling inspired and equipped with tools to deliver dance education from a different lens. Movers should come prepared to step outside their comfort zone as they explore multiple solutions to embodying the alphabet in abstract ways. Together will create, share, laugh and experience the joy and freedom of dance. Workshop targets both the Elementary & Secondary Dance Curriculum & can be adapted for all students and teacher candidates.
Andrea Ferroni
andrea.ferroni@code.on.ca
Andrea Ferroni is a Secondary School Dance Specialist with the HWCDSB. She also teaches the Dance AQ in the Faculty of Education at York University. Andrea is known for her contagious energy and passion for making movement accessible. Through ongoing professional development and innovative strategies, Andrea creates an inclusive environment conducive to creative expression and collaboration. Her skillful planning aims to empower learners of all ages and abilities to confidently build and acquire movement vocabulary. Exploring and experimenting various curriculum inspired creative processes provides learners with opportunities to learn more about this rich and powerful art form that deepens our connection and understanding of ourselves, others and society.
Workshop C: 2:15-3:45pm
Dancing with the stars - Elements of Dance as they connect to the science curriculum (P/J/I/S)
Workshop Description: This session invites participants to explore the connection to the world around them using the life cycle of a star to inform the movement. Motivated by the prompt, ‘we come from the stars’, to explore the elements of dance as it connects to science curriculum in all levels. Resources including, Lessons from the Earth and Beyond, the periodic table of elements and Tasha Spillett-Summer's picture book, I Sang You Down from the Stars will be offered as entry points to build kinesthetic understanding of literacy and science.
Cheri-Anne Byrne
cheri-anne.byrne@code.on.ca
Cheri-Anne Byrne is an Ontario Secondary Drama and Dance educator with 17 years of classroom experience and the current treasurer of the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators. Her teaching practice is anchored in infusing anti-oppressive and anti-colonial approaches to breakdown bias and barriers in educational spaces. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours degree in drama and obtained her BEd from Ottawa University. Cheri-Anne has facilitated professional development in Alglonquin-Lakeshore, Hamilton-Wentworth and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Currently she is an consultant in Indigenous Education with a focus on supporting Indigenous Youth in DPCDSB.