Performance Project Continues!

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

We’ve had a smooth start to this year’s Performance Project installment at Rosa Parks Elementary School, with about 30 students participating. They were chosen from an astounding 75 who auditioned. The students continue to surprise me with their sense of dedication and commitment. Each week they show up on time, ready and willing to do the work required to learn a dance and get it ready for a performance.

Our main performance composition is based on traditional West African Ghanaian dance. This is an upbeat rhythmic dance with some rather sophisticated choreography for young students. Luckily though, the children seem to really like it, as they are challenged by the intricacies of the staging. In this dance, there is a section where selected students will perform a solo they have choreographed themselves. For several, it will be their first time dancing on a stage alone.

Our second composition is exciting in an entirely different way. We will be performing a sign language dance based on American Sign Language (ASL). For this “dance”, the students get to receive coaching from a trained sign language interpreter, who is also a performing artist. We will be performing to Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”, a wonderful musical standard, full of emotion and compassion.

As a normal part of our preparation for performances, the students learn background about the origins and historical connections of the dances. So, just as they’ll earn a little about life and culture in Ghana, they will also learn about the non-hearing world, and what being deaf can be like for other children. My hope is that through these kinds of experiences, my students will become more sensitive and respectful about other cultures, and those with special needs.

We have yet to name the dances we will perform, but we usually save that until near the end of the rehearsal process. I will let the students select the names.

Stay tuned to see what they come up with!

Students practice a victorious ending to our Ghanaian dance.

Here I am demonstrating a basic African dance step for the students.

Students are struggling to learn a new step; the pivot turn.

This young boy is working on choreography for his solo.

Final Days in Edinburgh

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

This is the final installment of my Scotland adventure.

After 72 hours of continuous rain in Edinburgh, the sun has come out! Following weeks of work, I have two days all to myself. I’ll see a few museums and do a bit of shopping. The project was a success and everyone involved seems pleased, as am I. However, I have to admit that I’m homesick. Though I’m ready to leave, I know I’ll return again someday because Edinburgh is sort of a “home away from home” for me.

Thank you for following me on this amazing project. I hoped you learned a little bit about me, a little about Scotland, and something about the work of an arts educator. The San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education takes part in a lot of interesting projects, so I hope you’ll also follow me in the future, on a new adventure.

Included here a some final views of this great city.

St. Cuthbert’s Church

Greyfriars Graveyard

Dolly, the first cloned mammal, as she looked (preserved) in the National Museum of Scotland

A final image of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town, as viewed from Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano

Tags: Edinburgh

Teaching Dance in Schools in Scotland

Friday, September 4th, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

The students appear fascinated by what I teach, and the educators are amazed at what is possible in the dance class. The days are long and difficult at times, but ultimately satisfying. I am so happy to find our rhythm, both literally and figuratively.

In the evenings, we teach more adult dance workshops.

The students range in age from 11-15 years old. Most have little dance experience outside of Scottish traditional dance. The classes are long, about 90 minutes each. We usually work in the gym and will teach 2 or 3 classes each day, for the rest of the week. Some of the neighborhoods we work in are wealthy, and others clearly disenfranchised. Some schools are brand new (opened this year), while others are old and decrepit. But we teach with the same zeal no matter what!

I love teaching, and I love teaching teachers. It’s extremely satisfying. Thanks to our sponsor, the Bank of Scotland! The Edinburgh Festival is pleased and I tell the team, “well done!”

Students of Royal High School in Edinburgh explore "dance space." “

Here I'm directing students to make shapes.

A group of students from Royal High School rehearse a short dance.

A final (partial) class photo at Royal High School, Edinburgh Scotland.

Tags: Edinburgh

The Teaching Begins

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

After a week of training, mentoring, rehearsing, and lesson planning, we are all ready to teach. Our first event is a community dance workshop for the public. About 45 people gather at the Hub in the Main Hall, the home of Edinburgh International Festival.

Finally, we can put into use the arts education best practices and refined teaching techniques that we’ve been developing. The participants are nervous and excited, and so are we, but dance has a way of bringing people together and creating a sense of community. It’s such a relief to finally get started (dancers always love it when rehearsal is over and the performance begins).

The class is a great success and the participants are truly engaged. They take risks, learn something new, and all seem to have fun. We know we’ve achieved our goals when the overall sentiment is: “when are you coming back?”

A few images from the public dance workshop at the Hub, home of Edinburgh International Festival.

Me teaching the community dance workshop.

The class in motion!

The class loosens up.

Tags: Edinburgh