Drama Track
Workshop A: 10:00-11:30am
"Not My Girl": A Process Drama on Residential Schools (J/I)
Workshop Description: The Not My Girl workshop focuses on a Process Drama exploring the impacts of residential school and trauma using the story book Not My Girl. The emphasis of the work is to provide avenues for exploring Indigenous stories and experiences, without the appropriation of voice or culture, rather using the story and the themes/issues found within to provoke dramatic exploration and learning toward reconciliation and decolonization.
Matthew Sheahan
matthew.sheahan@code.on.ca
Matthew Sheahan is the current CODE president and former Eastern Regional Coordinator. He is a past presenter at CODE conferences, the OTF Curriculum Forum, as well as the International Drama and Education Association. Matthew is a secondary drama teacher and Instructional Lead Teacher of Indigenous Studies in Picton, Ontario. He specializes in accessing Indigenous issues, content and perspective in the classroom without appropriation of voice or culture. The 2019 student collective A Call to Action, of which he was the director and producer, was featured at the Children, Youth and Performance Conference 2019 at Young People’s Theatre. He is a member of the editorial board for Provocations Drama and Dance Journal.
Workshop B: 12:30-2pm
Musical Theatre: Staging, Transitions and Directing Audience Focus (I/S)
Workshop Description: Great staging is vital in creating an interesting scene or piece. In this workshop we will explore blocking, transitions and how to guide the audience to focus on the most important part of the stage. This workshop will provide you with tips, tricks and exercises that you can take back to your classroom to help your students think about staging and blocking differently. We will explore depth and perception to help students understand how to fill the stage. We will also look at stage graphing which will help your students transition from the rehearsal hall to the stage with ease. Finally, we will explore blocking notes and visual aids to help students better understand shapes and patterns created on the stage. This session will include some hands-on exercises as well as a scheduled time for questions and answers toward the end. This workshop is geared to both Dance and Drama teachers.
Kristyn Wiklanski
kwiklanski@stclaircollege.ca
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 C: 2:15-3:45pm
Creative Approaches to Complex Topics: Using Drama to Empower Students (P/J/I)
Teaching challenging subjects to elementary school students can be daunting. It's possible to approach these topics in a way that is respectful of the subject matter, trauma-informed, and empowering. Meeting you where you are at, we will share best practices for creating a safe and supportive learning environment that honors the lived experiences of all students and fosters productive classroom discussions.
In this active workshop, elementary teachers will explore how to guide students through complex issues using a variety of drama techniques and conventions, including image theatre. Importantly, we will use the concept of "universals and particulars" when approaching complex themes, relying on fictional and abstract parallels to complex topics that help foster empathy and critical thinking in students.
The workshop will model the issues of death and grieving, and wealth inequity and houselessness. Participants will come away with a variety of strategies and a clearer framework for approaching complex topics that impact their students' daily lives.
Tessa Lofthouse is an experienced teacher with a passion for using process drama to facilitate learning, particularly about social justice perspectives. She is currently a full-time Grade 1-5 Drama and French teacher in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB). She is also currently Vice President of the CODE Management Board.
Tessa is a professional curriculum writer and translator, having written elementary lessons for HWDSB's Reimagining Wellness curriculum and Mental Health and Wellness Week, incorporating drama and dance. Tessa has written elementary lessons that added arts extensions to the existing social justice/equity lessons for the HWDSB’s Learn. Disrupt. Rebuild. curriculum in 2021. In the same year, she wrote drama and dance resources for CODE's Grounded in Space and Place Writing Project.
Tessa has developed, written, and facilitated professional development workshops for various school boards and organizations, including ACPI where she was the 2019 Laureate du concours des professionels créatifs.