Kids in Motion
Nurturing The Art of Dance
The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company is entering the second year of offering a program to help meet the arts education needs of Harlem's public school students while simultaneously serving the Company's mission of nurturing the art of dance; educating the public; and promoting collaboration among members of the allied arts of music, theater, new media, visual arts, etc. and the communities in which they work.
The Company is partnering with Randall's Island Sports Foundation (RISF) to offer Kids in Motion, a dance program designed to give East Harlem 5th graders fundamental dance education in the context of the works and artistry of Bill T. Jones, Arnie Zane and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Program activities take place weekly during school hours both in the classroom and at RISF's new and fully-equipped dance studio at Randall Island's Icahn Stadium.
The Company started the pilot program of Kids in Motion in Fall 2007, with a full-year program set to begin in Fall 2008.
What Fall 2007 students have to say about Kids in Motion:
"... it has made a lot of shy kids come out of their shells. Also, it makes you more comfortable sharing things with your classmates."
-P.S. 83 5th grade student, Harlem, NY
"It makes me feel free when I dance and I don't feel shy."
-P.S. 83 5th grade student, Harlem, NY
"[My favorite part about having dance class] was when I had to work with two partners to make up our own dance. We could create anything based on a movement."
-P.S. 83 5th grade student, Harlem, NY
What principals are saying about the program:
"I was so pleased that one of our fifth grade classes was able to participate in the Kids in Motion pilot program this Fall, a joint project of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and the Randall's Island Sports Foundation (RISF). The quality and scope of this school-day dance program was impressive, combining valuable instruction in modern dance fundamentals with creative dance-making activities and journal writing.... The instructors and visiting company members from the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company were highly professional and made a wonderful impression on our students."
- Frances Castillo, Principal, Public School 83, Harlem, NY
"I was very impressed by the quality and scope of this program, and feel that it would be a wonderful opportunity for my students to not only exercise their bodies, but also their creativity... This program represents a new and exciting opportunity for my students to broaden their horizons while getting much needed exercise and exposure to the arts. "
- Janette Cesar, Principal, Talented & Gifted School for Young Scholars, Harlem, NY
–– Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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