"The
research is pretty clear that
those students who are involved
in arts education and music
perform better on standardized
tests. So here’s a little
secret: If you want to improve
your standardized test performance,
provide more arts and music
education." – U.S. Education Secretary
Rod Paige
Footworks is a leader in the
field of Arts-In-Education
and has been dedicated to
youth and family audiences
since the inception of the
Company.
ASSEMBLY
PROGRAM
Keeping the Beat: Contemporary
American Traditional Dance
Footworks
presents live music and authentic
American traditional dance
in an energetic, engaging
performance with plenty of
audience participation. Footworks
has an exceptional ability
to convey the joy of dance
to every student while illuminating
the historical and multicultural
perspectives of different
American percussive dances.
For over twenty eight years,
Footworks has specialized
in performing and teaching
the music and dance that developed
up and down the East Coast
and across the continent form
origins in African-American,
Celtic, and Native American
cultural traditions still
found in Southern Appalachia.
Footworks presents live fiddle
music, American clogging and
hambone along with call-and-answer
songs, rhythms, and other
related dances such as French
Canadian stepdance and South
African bootdance. [A wooden
performing surface is preferred
if available]
Grade Level: K-5, 6-8, 9-12
Curriculum Connectors: Multi-Cultural,
History/Social Studies, Music,
Dance, and Physical Education
PROGRAM
PLUS WORKSHOP Follow
the assembly program “Keeping
the Beat” with up to four
45-minute workshops, giving
classes a chance to try out
the dance steps they've just
seen. Classes will work with
Footworks dancers on age-appropriate
dance steps. This is a wonderful
activity for P.E. or dance
classes. (2 artists)
Grade Level: K-12
Curriculum Connectors: Multi-Cultural,
History/Social Studies, Music,
Dance, and Physical Education
RESIDENCY
PROGRAM
Roots and Rhythm
Traditional
music and dance is an activity
that Footworks presents in
a way that makes participation
accessible and fun with an
approach that brings students
together in a positive, constructive,
and participatory way, building
community and connecting the
participants to each other
and to their culture. The
learning sequences develop
motor skills and communication
skills, teaching how to focus,
follow directions, and work
with others. Every individual
understands that they are
an important part of the whole.
Workshops include percussive
dance, singing, “hamboning”
and improvisational exercises.
(2-3 artists)
Grade Level: K-12
Curriculum Connectors: Multi-Cultural,
History/Social Studies, Music,
Dance, and Physical Education
Incredible Feets
ARTS
INTEGRATION
Footworks’
founding director Eileen Carson
Schatz is a Certified Teaching Artist in Maryland. Her arts integrated residencies include working closely with the classroom teacher to custom design a series of classes that use music and dance to help teach the social studies and dance units of the Maryland State Curriculum. Click the links below for details on her current offerings:
Exploring Cultural Diversity through Dance (PDF)
Understanding the Star Spangled Banner through Dance (PDF)
