Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/619098
D A N C E W A S O F F E R E D in only one high school in Fontana Unified School District for years. But Nicole Robinson changed that in one quick step by asking her stu- dents at A.B. Miller High School to dance their way into the heart of the community. They stepped up to the challenge by presenting upliing community perfor- mances and sharing dance moves with younger students. Robinson and her students created two innovative programs, which were the catalyst to expand dance districtwide and integrate dance with the community. In one, Miller High's Conservatory of Dance (which Robinson created in 2009) partnered with the city of Riverside, the Riverside Transit Agency, and Riverside Community College to produce Trolley Dances Riverside, where the audience rides trolley cars to view performances by community dancers in unique locations. Students participated as dancers, cho- reographers and production managers. Riding high on the success of the Trolley event, Robinson created another program, the Dance Collaborative, part- nering with the California Arts Project and community dance artists. Her students taught Saturday dance workshops for fourth- and fih-graders, while Robinson and local dance artists offered profes- sional development for their teachers and master classes to elementary students, demonstrating how "time, space and energy" relate to dancing. Robinson's programs have been supported by Institute for Teaching (IFT) grants from CTA for several years. Seeing more youngsters dance made her want all students to have the opportu- nity. She asked the school board to fund a "dance pipeline" to high school. It wasn't fair, she said, that most students had no exposure to dance until ninth grade. The board agreed; members were enthusiastic aer seeing the progress made with IFT grants. Now more than 600 Fontana ele- mentary school students at seven schools (and their teachers) are dancing. "I believe in the power of dance," says Robinson, Fontana Teachers Association. "Dance provides an opportunity for stu- dents to express themselves in powerful ways beyond just speaking and writing. Dance develops coordination, strength, emotional maturity, fitness, and oppor- tunities for social encounters and joy. Dancing makes a difference." Nicole Robinson Bringing dance to the masses "Dance lets students express themselves in powerful ways beyond speaking and writing." A M Y C O N L E Y, an English teacher at Fortuna High School in Humboldt County, observed that most stu- dents chose mundane activities to meet the school's community service requirement, such as mowing a neighbor's lawn or donating old clothes. She wanted students to be creative, learn important skills and have a meaningful experience. So Conley dreamed up Change the World (CTW), which tasks stu- dents with creating projects to make the world a better place. Kyle Isaacs took CTW to heart. The Fortuna senior organized a basketball team for special education students to help them enjoy sports. "They may have differing abilities, but they are excited and capable and eager to partic- ipate in sports," says Isaacs, who has twin brothers with special needs. "This project makes me happy Amy Conley Changing the world "ey don't believe in their own power at first. en they start to dream big. It puts a fire in their bones." 21 December 2015 / January 2016