Whistlestop Dance Company Programs
Dance Infusion Residencies
In Dancing Math, Dancing Science, Dancing Cultures, Dancing Literacy, Dancing Music, & more, Whistlestop dancers infuse dance with curriculum. By learning kinesthetically, students’ creativity and problem solving skills are nurtured as they choreograph, perform, and reflect about their own dances. “They understood what it took to perform in front of an audience: risk taking, practice, cooperation, and self-control. Programs like this need to keep going!” – a teacher
Family Dance Nights
Culminating a dance residency or standing alone, at Family Dance Nights, students demonstrate dances, teach families the dances they have learned, and everyone dances together. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun at school! It is so difficult to pull off an event that is equally fun for kids and adults, but that is just what you did. It was a really special night. I hope you will be up for doing it again next year!” – a parent
Professional Development Workshops for Teachers
Teachers develop new skills: Learn basic dance concepts and skills and the process of creating, performing, & responding in dance, including classroom management. Infuse dance with other subject areas. Become skilled at teaching dance for students with and without disabilities. Develop criteria for on-going assessment.
“Teachers were provided a rich repertoire of skills to be able to continue using dance as a learning tool.” – a teacher
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Dancin’ Z Path was a site-specific dance event, created by Charlene Curtiss of Light Motion and Joanne Petroff and Debbie Gilbert of Whistlestop Dance Co., at the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. Following a performance and lecture demonstration in the PACCAR Pavilion to introduce the project, wheelchair and standup dancers, working in integrated pairs and accompanied by musicians danced their way through the Olympic Sculpture Park using various works of art for inspiration.
Whistlestop needs assistance to carry out the following aspect of our long-range plan:
- Tell our story – region-wide public awareness.
- Develop a PR/Marketing campaign that supports our programmatic and fundraising goals.
- Re-evaluate and refine our website to leverage it to fully tell our story.
- Research, compile, and implement a plan to incorporate and use social media to maintain web presence.
- Analyze audience engagement.
- Evaluate effectiveness of campaign.