Life as a Modern Dancer

"Dance/Reflect:" A New Journal to Use with High School Students

 

"Dance/Reflect:" A New Journal to Use with High School Students

By Jill Randall

 

Over the years, I have created 4 journals to be used in undergraduate and graduate-level technique courses. I have heard of high school dance teachers adapting these journals to use in their classes and studios as well.

This year, I decided to make a teen-focused journal to use in a high school dance program or studio setting. Thank you for adding writing and reflection into your teen program! These small activities can provide powerful opportunities for students to pause, consider, and capture ideas and feelings in words.

Teachers can print out the journal for their students at a local printer, ask the students to print their own copies, or use the PDF version, in which you can type. It is 50 pages in length.

There are 20 prompts in the journal which can be explored in any order. Students can select a prompt each week that resonates for them, or you can assign a particular one each week. 

In addition, there are pages for students to write down assignments, corrections, choreography notes, and more. 

You might set aside 10 minutes each week during class to use the journal or assign it for homework each week. I look forward to hearing your feedback and impressions this fall semester. Thank you!

Download Teen Journal Fillable PDF

Download Teen Journal to Print at a Printshop

Download Teen Journal to Print at a Printshop

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On teaching dance: What we wish to hear, what we hope you feel as a student

On teaching dance: What we wish to hear, what we hope you feel as a student

By Jill Randall

My head and heart have been full lately after a series of wonderful dance classes these past few weeks. I love being a teacher, and I love being a lifelong learner in weekly classes. Thank you to the following teaching artists for fabulous experiences during the past month, including:

Bhumi Patel
Mo Miner
Joslynn Mathis Reed
Charles Slender-White
Courtney Hope
Cookie Harrist
Andrew Merrell
Shaunna Vella
Melecio Estrella

This past week, I have been thinking about how I felt during and after these classes, and how these ideas are broader aspirations for teaching in general. I am thinking about my own classes, as I teach an intermediate level teen modern class each Tuesday and Thursday this school year.

What do you seek in a dance class? What do you aspire to offer your students?

 

“That was magical.”

“The class was well-crafted and well-planned.”

“I felt really warmed up.”

“What an amazing energy in the room.”

“I felt free.”

“I loved the challenge of __________.”

“I so look forward to this class.”

“Class energized me.”

“Class helped me decompress and de-stress.”

“I look forward to trying the material again next week.”

“The material in class was beautifully scaffolded.”

“So fun!”

Thank you to colleague Claire Calalo Berry for taking these words and making a printable PDF to post in your office or dance space. Download it here:

On teaching dance PDF

 

 

A New Journal for Your College-Level Technique Course This Semester (Free to Download)

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

Over the years, it has been really fun to create these journals for undergraduate level and graduate level technique courses. Today I share the 4th iteration. This one is meant to be a co-learning experience --- where students and professors alike write in a journal each week as part of a course. I hope that you will check it out.

The journal can be used for a variety of dance styles and levels, and there are multiple formats to select from here. If you have the ability to print and bind copies for your students at your school's print shop, that would be a really great option.

 

Version 1: a PDF for students to print at home

Download: On Technique IV Print at Home

Version 2: a PDF to print at a print shop

Download: On Technique IV Print at a Print Shop

Version 3: a PDF in which you can type

Download: On Technique IV Fillable PDF Version

 

Also, check out the 3 previous journals as well if seeking a variety of options!

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A Free and Downloadable Journal to Use in Technique Courses This Fall, Whether in Person or Online

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

In light of many college departments teaching distance courses or online courses in Fall 2020, I created a third journal option to use in a technique course this coming semester. Thank you to colleagues Adriane Fang (University of Maryland) and Nina Haft (Cal State East Bay) for their help shaping this journal.

Working with graphic designer Jai Arun Ravine, we created 3 versions of the journal: one to print at home, one for a print shop, and a PDF version in which you can type.

Download On Technique III Journal - Print at Home

Download On Technique III Journal - Print at a Print Shop

Download On Technique III Journal (PDF in which you can type)

Feedback and questions are always welcome. randalldanceprojects@gmail.com

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Related posts:

"On Technique I" Journal

"On Technique II" Journal

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Eight Free and Downloadable Options on Life as a Modern Dancer

 

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

Happy December! This is the time of year when I wrap up, review, and reflect about the blog, not into year 8!

Today I wanted to share a variety of free and downloadable projects that you might like to use this week or this coming semester.

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Technique Journal : To use within a college technique course - weekly reflection and articulation

On Technique II : A second version of the journal, to use within a college level technique course

The Arts Administrator's Alphabet : A project with 11 arts administrators around the country. 180 terms and concepts explored within 88 pages. For current arts administrators or to use within a college/graduate level course.

The Verbs of Arts Administration : A simple PDF to post on the wall or use as a reflection starter in a staff meeting

For Middle School Dance Classes (Graphic Organizer) : An 8.5x11 paper to use with your students to capture and document choreographic ideas

"Becoming a Teaching Artist" Graphic : Two versions of a design as you consider becoming a teaching artist

Job Survey : A simple springboard to complete when considering a career path in the field of dance

Dance+Change : Twelve graphics with potent words and questions. Post in your office...use within a course as a discussion starter....

 

Another Free, Downloadable Journal for Your College Technique Course

 

 

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

Two years ago, I created my first free and downloadable journal to use in college level technique courses. It was well-received and used around the country in various courses. 

Today, I am pleased to share a second journal. Thank you to fellow dancer and graphic designer Jai Arun Ravine for the beautiful design work. And, thank you to Eric Kupers, Damon Rago, and Pamela Shoebottom for your insights into the journal prompts. 

As you plan for your own winter/spring 2019 courses, please consider using this journal with your students. I strongly believe in the power of a regular writing practice as a component of each and every undergraduate and graduate level dance class. A small but steady writing practice supports our dance work on multiple levels. I am passionate about the articulate dancer and reflective dancer. 

There are two PDFs to download here. The first is to "print at home." The second PDF is to use at a college print shop.

To print at home:

Download Technique II Journal Print at Home

To print at a college print shop:

Download On Technique II Journal PDF for Print Shop

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Disrupt/Deepen/Contextualize: A Graphic Organizer for Seasoned Dance Teaching Artists

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From Blog Director Jill Randall:

As we head into another academic year (the 22nd year for myself!), I have created a simple reflection tool for us all. Please join me!

The three key words and actions here are: disrupting, deepening, and contextualizing. 

Disrupting - breaking out of our normal patterns for both teaching and for preparing for classes.

Deepening - taking the good work we are doing and going further. Making experiences and relationships richer...more.

Contextualizing - locating ourselves within a bigger picture. Keeping the work relevant and meaningful.

I want to thank several colleagues for reviewing this and for offering feedback: professors Cynthia Oliver and Jan Erkert at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, San Francisco Bay Area teaching artist Todd Courage, and dance teachers Linda Carr and Valerie Gutwirth in the Berkeley Unified School District.

Please consider printing this out, writing and reflecting , and sharing this with colleagues. Here's to a great year of learning ahead! 

Download Disrupt Deepen Contextualize

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Related posts:

Deepening our Teaching Practice This Coming Semester, Whether Teaching College Students, Teens, or Children

Speaking as a Teaching Artist: 50 Perspectives

Dance Pedagogy for a Diverse World: Culturally Relevant Teaching in Theory, Research and Practice

Jan Erkert's Book, Harnessing the Wind

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The Arts Administrator's Alphabet: 88 Pages, 180 Terms and Concepts

Throughout 2017, we used the alphabet as a novel way to unpack the many concepts of arts administration. It was a lot more content than expected - with 180 terms and concepts explored and explained. Please join in.

Thank you to the following arts administrators for adding ideas to the project:

• Ashley Thorndike-Youssef, Now Next Dance
• Fernando Maneca, BAX | Brooklyn Arts Exchange
• Hillary Kooistra, Abraham.In.Motion
• Kathryn Humphreys, Hubbard Street Chicago
• Katie Kruger, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
• Liz Hitchcock Lisle, Shotgun Players
• Phyllis Haskell Tims, University of Utah (retired)
• Rebecca A. Ferrell, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Sarah Crowell, Destiny Arts Center
• Tammy Cheney, Lines Ballet

Arts administration relates to work at dance centers, arts councils, arts education programs, companies, and college programs. Please read on to explore the many and varied topics within arts administration. While not every topic applies to every setting, we hope that you will still find one or two ideas under each letter as useful and applicable to your particular setting.

You are welcome to print out this PDF, but please note that the document is best used and read online to have easy access to links to articles, books, and blog posts.

Download The Arts Admininstrator's Alphabet

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Dance + Change 2017: January's Question

Dance + Change 2017...

One question or idea once a month....post-election questioning and artmaking.....

Please share this graphic and post it. Download a printable version here:

  Download WhyDance_JRandall_print 

Thank you to graphic designer Jenny Lederer and to dance artist Shaunna Vella for being a part of Dance + Change 2017.

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For Middle School Dance Educators: A Graphic Organizer to Support the Choreographic Process for Your Students

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In Spring 2016, I developed and tinkered with this graphic organizer tool. I was exploring new ways of entering into a creative project with my 7th and 8th grade students. 

For middle school students, using a tool like this can offer a simple and concrete way for students to capture ideas and remember their options as they begin a project. It opens up possibilities and invites students in who like writing down ideas/visualized instructions. The graphic organizer is also handy from week to week to jog students' memories about their choreographic projects. 

  Download Tools Ideas PDF

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