CCF Associate Teaching Artist Gabby Pfeifer worked with Mrs. Heather Gray, Library Specialist at Kennard Elementary School, to create an opportunity for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to dance on May 28th and May 29th. Students had the option to choose which activity they wanted to participate in for both days during their unified arts class period.
All in all, 100 students chose to dance with Gabby in her Move & Groove: Movement for Young Movers dance class and they had an amazing time. All students were exposed to introductory jazz dance vocabulary such as isolation, three step turn, pivot turn, chassé, and grapevine/karaoke. 5th grade students were also challenged with learning the box step/jazz square. Students also enhanced their overall motor skills such as walking forwards and backwards, side to side, skipping, and jumping. Students were also taught a short phrase of choreography that was accurate to their corresponding grade level.
On the first day, Gabby created a movement phrase that was able to be repeated 3 times through the entire selected song, reinforcing repetition and knowledge of the movements. Students used all the vocabulary they learned through the class to build a movement phrase that encouraged positivity, fun, and confidence in trying something new. On the second day, Ms. Gabby built upon the same movement vocabulary and created a similar but new piece of choreography. Gabby and Mrs. Gray also decided to implement a performance opportunity for the students. Students were split into alternating groups, audience members and performers. All students had opportunities to support and dance for their peers on the stage. With an actual audience and encouragement to shine even brighter on the stage, the students truly took the space with confidence and positivity.
“I’m beyond grateful that all these students showed up for classes with an amazing attitude, questions, and confidence while moving in a whole new way. I was so impressed by their attitude to just go for it” said Gabby.
Special Thanks to Mrs. Heather Gray for all her dedication and organization of creating this opportunity for her students.
The week of June 2-6 Gabby worked with Mrs. Erika Beyer, Music Teacher at Kent Island Elementary School, to create a movement opportunity for all Kindergarten students. Savanah Vega, Queen Annes County High School graduate, was also assisting Ms. Pfeifer in these classes to strengthen her own passion in dance education.
Students were engaged with creative movement based around the book and song, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” Students prepared for an adventure through the tall grass, the big river, sticky mud, and a cave by practicing movements corresponding to the environment. With printed pictures and the help of a friendly stuffed Bear, students were engaged in the movements of jumping, squatting, arm motions, jogging in place, and vocalization. After practicing the repeated motions, students were then able to go outside and explore the realness of movement in the natural environment.
After reflecting on what students could “find” and see outside, we headed back into the classroom for some free movement. Students were given two colored scarves and instructed to move however they wanted. Gabby and Savanah guided the students with prompts of dancing at different levels, speeds, spaces, and with different friends, students were able to confidently move by themselves. Students actively improvised through the space with frequent freezes and repetitions of the movements we practiced earlier, such as arm motions, leg motions, jumping, and squatting. Special thanks to Mrs. Beyer!
Done “with the support of Mrs. Beyer and Savannah I really think we got those kids excited to dance and feel free to move. With an engaging topic, props, and positivity, we were able to offer a positive, initial feelings towards dance that will hopefully carry on all through their time in QACPS”- Gabby Pfeifer
