BC News

Glenmont students build community through dance

Release Date: May 22, 2009

When Glenmont students raised their arms, swung their partners and shimmied into the middle of a circle of classmates last week, they weren’t just learning to dance. They were also dancing to learn. 

Last week’s “Building Community Through Dance Program” program featured a four-day residency at the school of New York City-based instructors Evita Arce and Michael Jagger. They taught the students The Big Apple, a social dance from the 1940's and folk dances from Japan and Holland. They explained how dancing was a significant part of many cultures. 

First grade teacher Peter Rawitsch, who helps coordinate the dance residency, said that the goal is for students to learn how dancing and creative expression can be used to help them better understand others and to work collaboratively with a partner or a group of people.  

Students in several Glenmont classes last week polished their moves in in-class workshops with Jagger and Arce — or “Michael” and “Miss Evita” as they were known in the school — and then came together for larger dances in the gym and cafeteria. 

Miss Evita and Michael are part of the dance troupe Vanaver Caravan, which uses folk dances from around the world and swing dancing to bring people together. Aside from swing dances originating in the American south, some Glenmont students also learned Japanese and Dutch folk dances that connected to the curriculum of global culture and New York State history. 

Miss Evita and Michael have been dance partners for four years. They have danced at some of New York City’s top venues, including Lincoln Center Plaza, The Waldorf Astoria, and The Rainbow Room. They have also made numerous TV appearances, including on season 3 of FOX's, “So You Think You Can Dance”, where they made it to semi-finals in Las Vegas. They jump back and forth between London as members of Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas' company, Swing Un-Ltd. They specialize in American swing dances from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. 

This year’s Building Community Through Dance residency program was funded through grants from the New York State Alliance for Arts Education, the Bethlehem Music Association, and Target stores. Mr. Rawitsch, along with fellow Glenmont teachers Valorie Falco and Monica Seebode co-wrote the grant proposals. 

This is the first year Miss Evita and Michael have come to Glenmont. The dance residency has featured Vikki Armstrong, a swing dancer from Ithaca, for the past two years. Mr. Rawitsch said the program has gotten bigger each year the school has held it, and that organizers are planning to apply for grant funding to continue it again in 2010. 

On Friday, May 29th, the three 1st grade classes from Glenmont will have a dance celebration with three 1st grade classes from School 14 in Troy at the Huxley Theatre in the New York State Museum. The Glenmont students will share the Big Apple and the students from Troy will share other American dances they learned from Livia Vanaver of Vanaver Caravan. The students from both schools have been penpals since April.

 

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