At the end of the programme they put great effort by performing to friends and family. Those dance classes in Portlaoise surely challenged them about confidence, self-presentation, communication skills, stamina, teamwork and collaboration, the ability to cope with criticism and learn from it, time management and organizational skills, self-awareness, self-discipline, an open mind and the ability to move beyond boundaries and experience different ideas.I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did teaching them.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Laois Arts Office Summer Programme 2013 - Dance Workshop
I'm delighted to share the video of the Dance Workshop at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise as part of the Laois Arts Office Summer Programme 2013. The children worked really hard during that week (1 to 5th July) learning 2 dance pieces and creating a dance phrase with my guidance. Their age group was between 9 and 12yrs and their experience in dance was none or little.
At the end of the programme they put great effort by performing to friends and family. Those dance classes in Portlaoise surely challenged them about confidence, self-presentation, communication skills, stamina, teamwork and collaboration, the ability to cope with criticism and learn from it, time management and organizational skills, self-awareness, self-discipline, an open mind and the ability to move beyond boundaries and experience different ideas.I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did teaching them.
At the end of the programme they put great effort by performing to friends and family. Those dance classes in Portlaoise surely challenged them about confidence, self-presentation, communication skills, stamina, teamwork and collaboration, the ability to cope with criticism and learn from it, time management and organizational skills, self-awareness, self-discipline, an open mind and the ability to move beyond boundaries and experience different ideas.I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did teaching them.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Teaching Dance in Schools
As a Dance Teacher I find great pleasure in teaching dance in schools. I've been teaching dance classes in Portlaoise since 2009 but I feel that teaching in schools challenges and inspires me both as a teacher and artist in a different perspective. In the journey that I had in the Timahoe National School, Co. Laois I was delighted to see the progression of each student that embarked with me in the wonderful journey of finding the relation between arts and dance. In Timahoe N.S. they have a sculpture about the Salmon of Knowledge which is the result of the residency of the artist Stefanie Bruning in 2008 and we used this piece of Art as a theme for our dance project.
To start with, I choreographed a contemporary dance phrase and taught the students. It was clear that it was a totally new experience for them all. The movements were unusual and to relate it with a piece of art seemed innovative and a bit far from what they expected of a dance class could be. After they had learned the phrase they started to move accordingly to the story, being as imaginative as they could, having also the support of not to be afraid of being creative. After both sides (myself and students) had put our input into the project, we started to mix and match what we created and also to experiment what we had using different qualities of movements.
We could had worked together for months and years experimenting and recreating our movements, but my residency in Timahoe was for only 10 weeks. The result in my view is amazing for a bunch of children who had none or very little contact with dance. They developed the theme in a very short period as growing up people, showing also that to be creative is to be innovative.
I hope you enjoy the video of my journey which I call 'Still Dance'. And I hope to continually facilitate self expression through dance not only to fulfill my desires but to have other people inspired by the dance that can come from within.
To start with, I choreographed a contemporary dance phrase and taught the students. It was clear that it was a totally new experience for them all. The movements were unusual and to relate it with a piece of art seemed innovative and a bit far from what they expected of a dance class could be. After they had learned the phrase they started to move accordingly to the story, being as imaginative as they could, having also the support of not to be afraid of being creative. After both sides (myself and students) had put our input into the project, we started to mix and match what we created and also to experiment what we had using different qualities of movements.
We could had worked together for months and years experimenting and recreating our movements, but my residency in Timahoe was for only 10 weeks. The result in my view is amazing for a bunch of children who had none or very little contact with dance. They developed the theme in a very short period as growing up people, showing also that to be creative is to be innovative.
I hope you enjoy the video of my journey which I call 'Still Dance'. And I hope to continually facilitate self expression through dance not only to fulfill my desires but to have other people inspired by the dance that can come from within.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Still Dance – A Dance in Education Project
I am honoured to be funded by the Laois Arts
Office to teach dance in the schools of the County Laois. In my first
project (Sports Dance) taught at Portlaoise College, I worked with the relation between
Dance and Sports, emphasising the physicality needed in both areas to achieve
their goals. Working now at Timahoe National School with the project "Still
Dance", I continue on supporting children to ‘read’ movement as
emotional expression, exploring their creativity and their excellence in what
they do. Both projects were born from a desire to search for other venues that
may lead people to dance or to see dance with other perspective. I want them to
enjoy dance from the simple to the most complex movement and to understand that
when you move to the music, a dance happens.
‘Still Dance’ is a project focused on the relationship between dance and Arts (Sculpture). Or in other words, my proposal is to find in the stillness of a sculpture feelings and ideas that may lead us to create a dance.
‘Still Dance’ is a project focused on the relationship between dance and Arts (Sculpture). Or in other words, my proposal is to find in the stillness of a sculpture feelings and ideas that may lead us to create a dance.
Creativity
is part of me both as artist and tutor. Therefore, I find very important to
lead my students to find their ‘own treasures’ and to refine it to the finest
that they can. In that way I feel I am not only teaching the students new steps
or a technique but to become responsible for their own dance and to accomplish
goals that may add solid skills into their lives.
Still dance suggests research, meditation and concentration. It seems difficult to require all that from children in their 5th and 6th class, however, when they find in the theme an interesting history behind, they become so involved that they may go even deeper than expected, showing great results at end.
Still dance suggests research, meditation and concentration. It seems difficult to require all that from children in their 5th and 6th class, however, when they find in the theme an interesting history behind, they become so involved that they may go even deeper than expected, showing great results at end.
At the Timahoe N.S, our theme is related to ‘The
Salmon of Knowledge’ sculpture made by the students and placed in the
main entrance of the school. There are some unique movements coming out of it
and a solid and consistent passion for dance that I pray will endure for the
rest of their lives.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Full Time Academy of Russian Ballet
The Academy was officially opened by the Minister for Arts, Jimmy Deenihan at The Convention Centre Dublin in January 2013. It is designed for transition year (or younger) vocational dance students.
MUCH more information about the syllabus etc is available on website -
http://
Monday, November 19, 2012
Keep Breaking Down Those Walls
“…Always keep breaking down those walls. Keep breaking down
what you think you can do. Always!
Don’t stay comfortable ever! There’s no I can’t. Ever! Anything
is possible. It’s all your choice. It’s about what do you want and how you want
to process…
You can encage your spirit and allow it just go and dance.
If you free your body has to got to get in line. It has to! It has to listen to
it. In that place of freedom, in that place of trust is the most amazing place
that you can dance from”
Mia Michaels
Very wise words from Mia Michaels.
I believe as dancers and artists we should go back to this place of freedom everyday, challenging not only our bodies but who we are. Overcoming not only our fears but also encouraging others to step out and get away from their comfort zone.
I believe as dancers and artists we should go back to this place of freedom everyday, challenging not only our bodies but who we are. Overcoming not only our fears but also encouraging others to step out and get away from their comfort zone.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
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