Thursday, May 13, 2010

Dancers from the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Co. have worked with hundreds of grades 3 and 4 students at the Scotia-Glenville School District over the past seveal weeks.

In the photos below, dancers Laura Teeter and Melissa George, accompanied by Brian Melick, work with grade 4 students at Lincoln on a variety of dances, including the Irish Jig, Swan Dance and other skills needed in dance, and discuss a variety of unique instruments from around the world.

"There are not rules or steps for what we do, you just make it up as you go along," said Laura Teeter. She told the students there are four characteristics to performing a dance: creativity, imagination, focus and respect.

During the program, the trio from Ellen Sinopoli discuss various dances and, as can be seen below, ask students to point out certain countries, such as Spain, Peru and Nigeria. Students also kept dance jouranls during the week-long residency at Lincoln.

Glendaal and Glen-Worden students have had their dance residencies already; Ellen Sinopoli will visit students at Sacandaga Elementary Students during the first week of June.

The company did a district-wide performance for all grade 4 students at SG on Feb. 10.

This $1,600 program is being paid from the Fine Arts budget, a grant from the New York State Arts Alliance for Education and donations from the Glenville Rotary, Rowledge Insurance, First National Bank of Scotia and Bellamy and Sons Construction.

Below are some of the scenes from the Lincoln residency: