PROJECT PIVOT
(FREE RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS)
A Re-imagining of Open Dance Project Educational Performances, Workshops, and Teacher Training for the Virtual Space
ODP’s beloved educational performances, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and ENGINuity! are broken up into short “brain break” length segments with accompanying participatory activities led by Open Dance Project’s artistic director and dancers/dance educators. These “brain breaks” build and expand on the performances’ core-curricular ties (social studies, reading language arts, science, engineering, math) coupled with social emotional learning components in time-sensitive segments that teachers can choose to present as stand-alone art bursts or as centerpieces to integrated arts lesson plans that spiral outwards from them. Project Pivot also offers professional development webinars for Pre K-12 classroom teachers focused on arts integration lesson planning and arts-based classroom management tools. Please let us know if you are interested in our designing a professional development workshop for your teachers by contacting robin@opendanceproject.org.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
ENGINUITY!
- 5-8 minute chapters
- For use in Pre K – 12th grade
- Equally accessible for classrooms, remote learners, and homeschool groups
- Featuring spoken and captioned text adapted from L. Frank Baum’s original novel
- Includes dance, aerial silks, and physical comedy
- For the youngest learners, the performances are engaging entertainment
- For the advanced dance, theater, or composition student, the performances are examples of adaptation and performance of literature and engagement of relevant social and political themes of both Baum’s time and our contemporary experience.
- STEAM based family audiences show, Open Dance Project teaches “everything you ever wanted to know about engines” through dance, acrobatics, circus arts, and physical theater.
- 28 minutes long divided into ten 2-5 minute chapters
- For use in Pre K – 12th grade
- Equally accessible for classrooms, remote learners, and homeschool groups
- Through written and spoken text teaches engineering concepts/vocabulary such as induction, compression, ignition, emission, crank shaft, rotary motion, linear motion, simple machines, steam engine, internal combustion engine, and more!
In these short videos, ODP company members lead dance and theater activities that accompany the performance of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dance and Theater Concepts taught include: tableau, qualities of motion (effort), levels, expressivity, personification, climax, sequence of events (beginning, middle, end), character, gesture, pathway, and movement sequencing.
In these short videos, ODP company members lead dance and theater activities that accompany the performance of ENGINuity! Dance, Theater, and STEAM Concepts taught include: ensemble, tableau, levels, pathways, linear (connecting rod), curved (gears), linear and rotary motion, movement invention, repetition, gesture, rhythm, and sequencing movement.
Project Pivot Accompanying Arts Activities
These beloved educational performances are broken up into short “brain break” length segments with accompanying participatory activities led by Open Dance Project’s artistic director and dancers/dance educators. These “brain breaks” build and expand on the performances’ core-curricular ties (social studies, reading language arts, science, engineering, math) coupled with social emotional learning components in time-sensitive segments that teachers can choose to present as stand-alone art bursts or as centerpieces to integrated arts lesson plans that spiral outwards from them. Project Pivot also offers professional development webinars for Pre K-12 classroom teachers focused on arts integration lesson planning and arts-based classroom management tools. Please let us know if you are interested in our designing a professional development workshop for your teachers by contacting elissa@opendanceproject.org.
The following funders have made this possible: Arts Connect’s Art Action Fund, the Texas Commission on the Arts, The Strake Foundation, The Brown Foundation, the Greater Houston Community Foundation and many, many individuals donors who gave generously during our 2020 end of year appeal. We are so grateful for everyone’s support to make these resources free to teachers and students!