NEWS
AL Students Offer Lessons in Dance
May 5, 2011 — From the rainforests of
Brazil to a battlefield in ancient Japan and finally to the shores
of the Emerald Isle, students at Abram Lansing
delivered lessons in culture and nature to their classmates through
creative dance. Led by eba Teaching Artist, Naomi Wimberley-Hartman,
the students were encouraged to draw on their own creative potential
to bring their classroom studies to life. Through individual
movement and choreographed group dances -- that included props to
aid in storytelling -- the third graders shared what they have
learned about the countries of Brazil, Japan and Ireland.
Ms. Wimberley-Hartman worked as an artist-in-residence within the school, helping the students express what they have learned in Social Studies and share it with other Abram Lansing students. She spent nine class periods working with the students to craft expressive dance moves. Creatures, large and small, climate and the enviroment became the focus of much of their dance instruction.
The students' tribute to Japanese culture was a particularly memorable portion of the dance recital, as the girls performed a Japanese Fan Dance and the boys took to the floor in a well-choreographed Samurai warrior routine.
For 20 years, Abram Lansing has worked with eba, Inc. of Albany and its founder, Maude Baum, to bring arts education to the students of Cohoes.
Click here or on photo to view dance slideshow!
