New dance instruction resources from Human Kinetics

Cover for Dance Units for Middle School / Courtesy of Human Kinetics

Cover for Experiential Anatomy in Dance Technique / Courtesy of Human Kinetics

>> by Cynthia Brett
Teaching dance just got easier with two new releases from Human Kinetics, international publishers of sports and recreation resources: Dance Units for Middle School and Anatomy in Dance Technique: Eight Skeletal Explorations. Faced with increased presence of dance in elementary schools (middle school in the United States), coupled with teachers that lack dance experience, Judi Fey (MEd) created Dance Units for Middle School to address this issue. Specially designed for generalist teachers, this book/DVD combo includes three dance units for grades six through eight including improvisation, dance for athletes, and jazz dance. It also includes scripts for teachers, a music CD and a DVD with seventy-seven video demonstrations. Anatomy in Dance Technique was created by Jennifer Salk (MFA) to give dancers a better understanding of human anatomy, thus helping them to make better choices about movement. The DVD covers eight key areas of the body: shoulder joint; shoulder girdle; hip joint; knee joint; spine; rib cage; tibia and fibula; and ankle, tarsus and toes. A video instructor assists students in identifying these areas and provides movement and choreographed phrases for each.
www.HumanKinetics.com

New facility and scholarship for Dance Victoria

>> by Samantha Mehra

Dance Victoria recently announced the creation of The Chrystal Dance Award, a new scholarship worth $11,500 aimed at helping emerging dancers and choreographers pursue further studies at accredited institutions outside of Canada. It also aims to support mid-career dancers and choreographers interested in self-directed studies outside of Canada with a mentor, dance company, or via group activities (workshops, research, residencies). Named for Victoria pediatrician Dr. Chrystal Kleiman, who left a large bequest to the organization, the scholarship is open to both emerging and mid-career dance artists, and will be awarded for the first time in Spring 2011. Applications for the scholarship will be available on January 2, 2011 at DanceVictoria.com. Only dancers resident in Western Canada may apply. Dance Victoria has also acquired a new 11,800 square-foot facility at 2750 Quadra Street after six months of negotiations with the former owner of Victoria Arts Connection. The facility offers three fully outfitted dance studios, three office suites, lobbies and a commercial kitchen. The facility, which is now Victoria's central dance community centre, offers ongoing programs as well as creation residencies, professional mentoring and the LOLA Projects. It has already become home to several dance companies including Boston Dance Collective, Shan-e-Punjab Dance, Wanda Kivitt Dance, Alma D'Espana, Red Hot Swing and others.
DanceVictoria.com