West Virginia Dance Company

West Virginia Dance Company

WV Dance Company was founded in 1977 with the distinct purpose of enriching lives through dance.  Today, the company continues to perform a blend of educational, entertaining and thought-provoking modern works that generate enthusiasm in audiences of all ages.  The company is comprised of six highly-trained professional dancers whose repertoire includes works influenced by the rich cultural heritage of Appalachia and various cultures from across the globe.  The company has performed extensively in West Virginia and thirteen other states as well as in Brazil.

Founder and Artistic Director, Toneta Akers-Toler, has served as choreographer and master teacher for Theatre West Virginia since 1983. She has also been master teacher for the WV Fine Arts Teachers Academy and the WV Governor’s Honors Academy.  She was selected to participate in the NEA’s Art in the Classroom project and, in 2005, Toneta was honored with the WV Governor’s Award for Artistic Excellence.

Throughout its history, WV Dance Company has been engaged in providing high-quality, interactive arts-based learning experiences for K-12 students.  Including both a curriculum-based assembly performance and grade-specific creative movement workshops exploring STEAM topics, WV Dance Company’s program reaches tens of thousands of students and teachers each year.  Gerri Houlihan, former Dean of the American Dance Festival, describes WV Dance Company as a company with “high standards of creative and educational achievement.. a company to support and applaud!”  In 2001, the company received the WV Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education.  2017-18 will be WV Dance Company’s 41th season.

 

 

 

EDUCATOR CONTACT INFO

kelliwhit@gmail.com

http://wvdanceco.com

  110 Ellison Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801

Raleigh

(304) 252-0030

Adventures Around the Big Blue Marble

Program description

West Virginia Dance Company’s arts-integrated educational tour is a comprehensive program incorporating 21st century learning skills and multicultural studies for K-12 students.  Offered on-location to school audiences and to public audiences in community venues, the program incorporates arts-based learning across the curriculum while drawing on global connections.  

Adventures Around the Big Blue Marble features an hour-long, school-wide performance with seven original dance works, each exploring the historical, cultural, scientific and/or geographical elements of a specific continent.  The works are preceded by a brief oral presentation that includes an explanation of the curricular subject represented and what to look for in the dance to further understanding.  The works teach math, science, literature and history through the art of dance.

Included with the program is a grade-specific, interactive workshop which allows students to explore STEAM subjects in depth through creative movement.  Students learn basic movement concepts and how ideas and scientific principles can be represented through movement before exploring and creating their own compositions.  A detailed, grade-specific study guide contains complementary enrichment activities to allow teachers to continue an effective arts-based learning experience in the classroom.  Teacher workshops are also available upon request.  West Virginia Dance Company’s entire program is aligned with Common Core Standards.

 

Booking / scheduling contact

Kelli Whitfield

   (304)673-3311

 kelliwhit@gmail.com

Program detail
Artistic discipline: Dance
Cultural Origin: Multicultural
Program type: Assembly/Performance, Workshop
Population served: Pre-K
Subject: Dance, Engineering, English, Language Arts, Literacy, Math, Music, Science, Social Studies / History, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts
Bilingual: No
Available dates:

Monday through Friday as available.

Available times:

Morning, afternoon or evening.

Length of program: Performance - 1 hour; Workshop - 1 hour
Space / technical requirements:

Space: Preferred performing space is 30′ x 30′ although smaller areas can be accomodated.  Easy access to the performing space for unloading/loading and a dressing room with a bathroom nearby are required.

Technical: Access to performance space 2 hours in advance.  Facility contact to assist upon arrival as needed.  Company will provide a dance floor and sound equipment.

Location(s):

Any in-school or community venue with adequate performing space.  Theaters, gyms, libraries, multi-use rooms and cafeterias are all acceptable.

Fees / Ticketing:

One program – $1,850; two programs same day/same school – $3,000.  Program includes full-company performance for an unlimited audience, student/teacher workshop(s) and detailed enrichment study guide for all grades.  Fee is inclusive of travel and all other expenses.

EDUCATION STANDARDS

NC Standard Course of Study:

R2 – Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.  Students "read" the key themes of the dance as they relate the movement to a story or development of an idea.

R7 – Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.  Students hear the dancers explain the inspiration for each dance; students must evaluate the effectiveness of the dancers’ portrayal of each concept or story as the performance progresses.

SL2 – Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.  Students learn how dance can be used to express an idea, concept or story.

SL4 – Present information, findings and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.  In our workshop, students explore a topic through creative movement individually and in groups before presenting their own compositions demonstrating their interpretation and understanding of the subject.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NC Essential Standards:

From Arts Education, Dance Standards:

K-8/B/I/P C.1 – Understanding cultural, historical and interdisciplinary connections with dance. Students learn how dance can be used to tell a story, represent historical events and cultural elements, and explain math and science concepts visually.

From Science, Grade 3-5 Standards:

3.P.2 – Understand the structure and properties of matter before and after they undergo a change.  Through creative movement, students explore the states of matter and chemical processes involved in the traditional art of glassmaking.

From Social Studies, Grade K-2 Standards:

1.C.1.2 – Use literature to help people understand diverse cultures and 2.C.2.1 – Explain how artistic expressions of diverse cultures contribute to the community (stories, art, music, food, etc.).  Students learn about unique artistic expressions from around the world and their importance and influence in a specific culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifications

Conducts educational programming for 2 or more years: Yes
Performs criminal background checks on staff with youth contact: Yes
Maintains general liability insurance (Individuals and organizations listed in this Directory can provide proof of insurance upon request. ASC does not hold copies of current documentation for providers): Yes
Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes
Provides study guides for teachers and or students: Yes
Connects to State and or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes
Provides tools to assess student learning (workshops and residencies): Yes
Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes
Cancellation Policy

May cancel no later than two months prior to the performance date.  10% cancellation fee if cancelled with two months of performance date.