Today, there are only a very few lucky children that are fortunate enough to participate in quality dance conducted by professional dance teachers and choreographers in public or private schools. Dance as an art form is a vital means of communication and must be taught as a meaningful activity created to suit young people’s needs and movement abilities. Among all arts, if taught properly, it is the most appropriate art form for today's youth because it develops the body and soul simultaneously.
While dance should not be absent from basic education, unfortunately, where it is taught by ordinary school teachers, dance may lose its element of enjoyment, excitement and pleasure. By continually focusing on these attributes of dance, Dance Nova has fulfilled this task by paying attention to and following the preferences of Australian youth.
The ‘Artists Residency’ program has been launched in 2005 and it has been already conducted in many schools. The excellence of this program resulted in making this program permanent future at Holy Family Primary School - Menai.
The development of ‘Artists Residency’ has helped Dance Nova to recognise the importance of repeating a series of workshops with groups of young people and it serves to strengthen the relationship between the Company and the participants. This relationship in turn serves to enhance student enthusiasm and confidence in present and future dance participation.
During the 5-week period (1 workshop per week per group) students will be exposed to and will participate in a variety of different dance styles ranging from;
creative -- contemporary -- character -- pantomime -- western country -- folk dance
Students will also be taught the importance of rhythm in dance and everyday life through hands-on experience and activities. Additionally, to make students aware of the importance of safe dance techniques, each week they will carry out proper warm-up exercises at the beginning of the workshop and will perform appropriate stretches upon the its completion.
Each workshop will last for approximately 1 hour and its content will vary each week as the students build upon their acquired knowledge. At the last workshop at the end of the program (week 5), students will review and evaluate the different characteristics of dance learnt throughout the Program.
‘Artists Residency’ program can also be done in 5 consecutive days (Monday – Friday) during one week.
The participation in Dance Nova’s ‘Artists Residency’ program will help young people develop a confidence in dance by being able to;
• demonstrating their ability to express rhythm and song by movements
• develop their own dance techniques as a part of their choreographic work
• utilise a non-verbal communication between humans
• express themselves based on individual expression and their concepts of what
constituted free movement
• evolve in unison with their fellow dancers and to be creative in space with their body
• learn of the dance is beautiful but skilful art form which carries many values
Artists' Residency Program
