Time capsule: Group teaches through dance
The members of the Rock Dance Company, a group that formed in 2009 at Slippery Rock University, planned to travel to elementary schools and preschools to teach youngsters the basics of dance.
Todd Englander, a dance and elementary education major at SRU and a member of the group, said his experience will help with his dual major.
“They can learn through dance,” Englander said. “They learn through expressing themselves.
“It's a great experience working with children through movement.”
The group’s toe-tapping presentation to Slippery Rock Area Elementary School featured tap, hip-hop, modern dance and contemporary partnering. The company members did group numbers, danced as pairs and performed individual dances. Each number was choreographed by one of the group members.
The elementary students were encouraged to participate when they could. The large group made it difficult, but they were stomping their feet and clapping and snapping to several numbers.
A crowd favorite was Englander’s Spiderman moves. After announcing to the group that Spiderman was his favorite superhero, he was lifted over the other members of the group. The smooth movements made it appear he was climbing and jumping through midair.
