Dance

Barbara Pearson
Dance — Choreographer
405 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-866-0516
bp04@lehigh.edu

I am trained in ballet and modern dance, and have done extensive research in historic and ethnic dance forms. I teach the basic elements of dance and choreography, with emphasis on getting students to create and find meaning in their own original work. As part of my residency I do workshops with the school staff to give them new skills to use, and to plan integrated units and decide on assessment methods.

My credentials include: BA, Carleton College; MALS, Movement Studies, Wesleyan University; graduate of the Project Zero Institute, Harvard University, with Howard Gardner; recipient, Distinguished Service Award, Dance Forum of the Lehigh Valley; Appreciation Award, PASHPERD; founding director, Lehigh Valley Arts-in-Education Coalition; choreographer for programs for Touchstone Theatre, Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and "Two In Time", a duo that recreated historical social dance.

I also lead Professional Development Workshops for teachers on Multiple Intelligence Theory, Arts Integration, and Using Movement in the Curriculum.

Three main goals I have for all residencies are to:

1. Teach the basics of movement and dance
2. Give students the opportunity to create their own work
3. Give every student the opportunity to express her/himself through performance

Depending on the theme and age group, residency activities may include:

1. Researching a topic we have chosen
2. Exploring movements to solve a problem
3. Choreographing dance and movement sequences
4. Learning ethnic or historic dances
5. Looking at videos of professional or ethnic dance
6. Creating and performing original work

Students benefit from my residencies because:

1. They find out dance is something they like and can do (boys and girls alike)
2. They discover their own strengths and individuality
3. They learn to work as a group
4. They experience the creative process leading to a performance
5. They have fun

Example topics for my residencies include:

1. Historic periods or ethnic groups
2. Science topics
3. Stories or poems
4. Music

* Go to www.barbarapearson.com for more information.

Repertory Dance Theatre
Dance/Ballet
Repertory Dance Theatre, Dance/Ballet
118 S. 6th St., Emmaus, PA 18049
610-965-6216
rdtdolly@aol.com

Founded in 1987, Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) gives the Lehigh Valley community many opportunities to celebrate the art of dance and encourages young people to learn about dance as a discipline, profession, and avocation. In addition to two main stage professional productions each year, RDT offers a variety of outreach programs. RDT's long-term residencies use dance as a foundation for interdisciplinary programs, or use dance as a medium that combines with traditional academic areas. Each residency is designed to meet the needs, goals, and objectives of the school and its specific student populations. Students develop listening skills by exploring rhythm and music, learn movement elements (including creative and choreographic principles and processes) and storytelling, in addition to gaining strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness.