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CAP was founded in 1990 to act as an advocate for the arts, serve the public by providing services and resources for county artists and arts organizations, and encourage collaboration among arts, education, business, civic and government organizations.Learn more
Published: April 4, 2010
Each year, CAP distributes grants to schools for partnerships between teachers and artists. These "Arts Education Grants" help teachers teach their existing curriculum by enlivening the classroom with artists. These "teaching artists" involve the children in their art making in a way that really drives home their understanding of their studies in a wonderful and unique way.
One of CAP's five 2010 funded Arts Education projects went to Trumansburg Elementary School where 3rd graders worked with dance teaching artist Dr. Nancy Kane who taught Irish culture through dance, language, art and music.
Dr. Kane says "I've been teaching Irish dance for nearly twenty years, and it was a tremendous pleasure to work with the Trumansburg Elementary School third grade teachers Andrew Burton, Ellie Zimet, Cathy Bair, Whitney Dennis and art teacher Kate Sinko on this residency.
We were able to weave Irish dance, music, language, and culture into the social studies curriculum, and the costume designs allowed the kids to express their own creativity using Celtic themes. A number of New York State educational standards in social studies as well as national dance standards were met as a result of this effort.
Each day began with Irish conversation, followed by a song (Erin Gra Mo Chroidh, Cockles and Mussels, and Shule Aroon) in which some aspect of Irish history or culture was evident. We danced beginning reel steps and a ceili dance called The Bridge of Athlone, which commemorates an historic battle.
Costume templates for male and female dancers were created by the art teacher, using big pieces of colored paper attached to background papers of different colors. The students then used Celtic designs from clip art, and their own drawings, and pieces of glittery foil as well as markers and paints to enable their own personalities to shine through the designs. Several students chose to work in pairs to complete the art project component of the residency.
The costume designs have been hung in the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, where they will be on display during National Dance Week (April 23-May 2) and later become part of the spring art show in May!
I hope we will be able to find a way to continue making Irish arts and culture part of the 3rd Grade curriculum. The students really enjoyed the active learning and the chance to work with a teaching artist!"
