Update from Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

Emily Pitcher — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:06:28 +0000

Our process of developing dance for the Performance Project at Harvey Milk is going well. I am choreographing sections and then putting them together like puzzle pieces. In addition, the dancers have been divided into small groups and work together to create their own group combination. Through this process, these third graders are learning how to both collaborate creatively and work hard in order to perform the choreography.

There are many different levels in terms of movement experience within my group of students, but everyone is really trying their best. When you share this process, it opens up the child in a way that’s different from a regular classroom environment. Emotional issues can surface and it’s important to address the them and help the child find ways to work it out through the movement, if possible. We do discuss any issues verbally as well. Overall, it’s an opportunity for a child to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s an added bonus that the dance piece honors civil rights activists and what they stood for, which often serves as a reminder when things can feel challenging to the students. Nonetheless, we have bonded after spending several hours in this rehearsal process.

This group of third graders is very special as they are all very unique and bring something different to the process. While I do look forward to seeing the final product, it is a lesson in itself to always remember the process; it’s what gives the product its integrity and truly feeds the creative spirit.

Students practice making shapes with their arms.

This small group is creating their own choreography.

Student’s create a symbol for caring.

A very cool (almost disco-like) pose!

Performance Project at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

Emily Pitcher — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:07:42 +0000

Since mid-January, Mr. Hall’s third grade class at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy has been rehearsing every Tuesday afternoon. They are gearing up for their performance at the DeYoung Museum on May 8. Charles McNeal and I completed our ten-week residency through the Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) program with these students in the fall. Most of them had never taken a dance class prior to their experience in DISC, but you would never know. The level of focus and their determination persuaded us to choose this entire class, without a regular audition process, to participate in this year’s Performance Project.

The school lies in the heart of the Castro and not only do these children learn about Harvey Milk and how he supported equal rights for gay people, but they learn about several international human rights activists. Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy works to implement these standards in the classroom with a diverse population of students.

Our choreography is based on teamwork and the dance is meant to honor the work and commitment of several civil rights activists that have helped to shape our society.

Today the dancers were asked to come up with one word that came to mind when thinking of human rights and what it takes to have equality for all people. They created a movement based on that word and in small groups, threaded each movement together to create their own choreography. It feels extremely empowering to have everyone contribute to this dance. Thus, everyone has an equal opportunity to express their voice through movement.

Here I am listening to my dancer’s ideas.

Students learning through observation of their peers.

These dancers are experimenting with a movement for the word ‘hope’.

What an interesting shape!

And an even better ending to their movement phrase.

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Update from Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

Performance Project at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy