Sarah Council Dance Projects

Sarah Council is a contemporary modern dance choreographer and teaching artist. She is the artistic director of Sarah Council Dance Projects (SCDP); a dance company founded in 2007. SCDP has performed and taught extensively though out New York City and the east coast region. In 2014, Council,

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As a dance educator, Council believes that the creative process is empowering and transformative for individuals and communities. Sharing this process is a passion and priority for SCDP.

In this effort, Council has conducted residencies, presented lecture demonstrations and taught master classes and dance-making workshops to people of all ages and abilities throughout New York City, New Jersey, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida. She has worked with arts education organizations such as Together in Dance (NYC), The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJ), The Wolf Trap Institute of Early Learning for the Arts (DC/NJ), American Dance institute (DC), Dance Place (DC) and Joy of Motion (DC).

What participants and teachers are saying:

“It was so interesting to see my students completely involved in the creative process…What a wonderful experience.”
–Classroom teacher participant; elementary school dance-making residency

“Sarah did a wonderful job working with all my students! She allowed them to be creative, but guided in the right direction while using positive responses.”
-Classroom teacher participant; elementary school dance-making residency

“…Dance-making, when generous and community minded can be stress-less.”
-Dance-making workshop participant

SCDP has received support from the Queens Council on the Arts, The Puffin Foundation and The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Council’s choreography, described by the Washington post as “…uncommonly honest and expressive”, has been presented in numerous venues in NYC including: The Green Building, The 92nd St. Y, The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Times Square Arts Center.The Flea Theater, The Secret Theater, The LABA Theater, The Riverside Theatre, Green Space, Triskelion Arts, Topaz Arts, Merce Cunningham Studio, Dance New Amsterdam, Gowanus Arts, Times Square Arts Center. Council’s work has also been presented at the following venues in Washington, DC, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida: Dance Place (DC), The Jack Guidone Theater (DC), Franklin Marshall University (PA),Glema Mahr Center for the Arts (KY) and Jacksonville Episcopal School (FL).

Council holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma where she performed nationally and internationally

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EDUCATOR CONTACT INFO

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Dancing Outside of the Box

Program description

Dancing outside of the box is 3-5 day dance residency that explores the practice of performing in unconventional spaces. This dance making residency will consider the history of site specific dance in the context of dance history and will challenge students to create a series of performances in unusual spaces throughout their schools. This residency will culminate in a final site specific sharing

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Over the course of this residency students will:

– Study the history, motivations and methods of creating site specific dance.

– Begin an exploration of the material within the classroom/dance studio space; experiencing selected site specific methods as individuals and in small groups.

– Identify several potential site specific performance locations within the school (hallways, foyer, gym, and auditorium). Discuss the architectural elements of these spaces and the potential challenges and opportunities each of the environments present.

– Work together in the classroom to create a framework, or performance score, for each space.

– Perform a series of site specific dances over several weeks, using the planned scores for each location.

– Engage in a discussion after each experience to consider what worked and what could be done differently next time.

– Design and perform a final sharing for another classroom or invited guest that takes place outside on the school grounds. This informal sharing will include several methods of creation and a combination of improvised and choreographed material.

This program will meet for a total of 3-5 days. The exact residency duration and schedule can be determined to meet the needs of each individual school. The program will also include a collaborative planning meeting between the teaching artist and classroom teachers before the residency begins to identify objectives. The residency will culminate in an informal classroom sharing.

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Booking / scheduling contact

Sarah Council

202-236-9176

skcouncil@gmail.com

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Program Detail

Program type: Residency, Workshop

Artistic Discipline: Dance

Cultural Origin: Multicultural

Subject: Dance, Theatre Arts

Population served: Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9

Bilingual: No

Available dates:

September through May

Available times:

school hours

Max number of students: 20

Length of program: 50 minutes per session

Space / technical requirements:

Dance Studio/ Multipurpose room or classroom with desks pushed to the side so students can have space to move freely; as well as permission to use other spaces within and outside the school in accordance with guidelines for safety and decorum set by the school.

Location(s):

schools

Fees / Ticketing:

3-5 day residency = $900 per classroom

EDUCATION STANDARDS

NC Standard Course of Study:

R 4 Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
(Dancing Outside of the Box participants will interpret movement phrases, determining meaning and analyzing how specific movement choices and the application of dance concepts, [i.e.: shape, time, space, and force] shape meaning and tone.)

W 5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
(Dancing Outside of the Box participants will apply this same process of creating and revising in dance-making; working individually and in collaboration.)

SL1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
(Dancing Outside of the Box participants will develop collaborative team building skills while creating duets and small group site specific dances and improvisations.)

NC Essential Standards:

NC Essential Standards

DM.1 Understand how to use movement skills in dance.

CP.1 Use choreographic principles, structures, and processes to create dances that communicate ideas, experiences, feelings, and images.

K.R.1 Use a variety of thinking skills to analyze and evaluate dance.

CP.2 Understand how to use performance values (kinesthetic awareness, concentration, focus, and etiquette) to enhance dance performance.

Qualifications

Conducts educational programming for 2 or more years: Yes

Performs criminal background checks on staff with youth contact: Yes

Maintains general liability insurance: Yes

Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes

Connects to State and or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes

Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes

PHOTOS

References

Karen Curlee-(646)-522-6918
Co-director of Together in Dance, New York, NY

Diane Clark- (270)-841-0827
classroom teacher, Grapevine Elementary, Madisonville KY

Jennifer Walker-(904)-571-5599
Dance professor, Episcopal school of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Fl

Cancellation Policy

50% of the total engagement fee if cancelling within 30 days of the booking

100% of the total engagement fee if cancelling within 7 days of the booking

In case of inclement weather or other unforeseen situations SCDP will work with the school to reschedule residency activities.