"Literacy is more than just being able to read. It’s a comprehensive experience that creates a broader understanding of your subject. In my movement/dance education programs we take stories based on mythology or culture and immerse ourselves in to the geography, history and culture of the story. We work together to interpret the story and make it relevant to our current place and time. In my education program at SIPA (Search to Involve Phillipino Americans), we took an African Bushman Creation Myth and created a performance based on the story. The kids took images from the story and created movement and dance. They learned about geography and history and indigenous music. We made shakers out of rice and beans, created a set out of paper and learned about rhythm. The students had the experience of performing their work. A simple story was transformed in to a learning tool that employed art, music, geography, history, music and ultimately a performance which the kids were integral in creating.
The kids made creative decisions, had to problem solve with others in the group and built the confidence to be onstage working together to create a performance."
