Alicia DeMellier MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2018

DanceKit: A Guide to K–12 Incorporation of Dance

As Americans, we are chronically unhealthy and subject to avoidable injuries throughout our lives. Our school systems prioritize STEM curriculum over the arts—dance in particular as it is viewed as extracurricular—limiting student’s creativity. For many, a healthy, active lifestyle and desire to be creative is instilled during childhood, making them more likely to continue to strive for the same as adults. Social expectations and norms are also established throughout our lives, beginning as early as age three. Many current social norms discourage dancing depending on gender and reinforce that people should only dance if they’re good at it. By utilizing dance to instill physical literacy in K–12 schools, future Americans will have the groundwork for a healthier, happier lifestyle as they enter adulthood as well as be more comfortable participating with dance. I am exploring strategies to teach dance earlier and more consistently through the developmental years in all public schools. I have outlined a program incorporating dance in K–12 schools and designed a series of soft, interactive, whole-body tools that will encourage dance movement and play. By participating in dance and creative movement of all types from a young age, individuals gain improved physical literacy and will be more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their lives with the added bonus: they will be comfortable ‘cutting a rug,’ as they (and I) say!

SJ Bowden MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2021

Inbar Sharon MA Design Systems Thesis 2022

Ameenah Carroll MA Design Systems Thesis 2022

Maddy Silberger-Franek MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2022

Katie Vellman MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2023

Miguel Rodriguez MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2023

Brendy Hale MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2023

Betsy Lance MA Design Systems Thesis 2021

Samantha Caruthers-Knight MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2021

Katherine Mitchell MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2018

Amelia Bauerly MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2019

Andrew Mears MA Design Systems Thesis 2019

Ophir El-Boher MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2019

Amber Marsh MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2019

Mijounga Chang MA Design Systems Thesis 2020

Emilie Jensen MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2020

Audrey Lewis MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2020

Leah Payne MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2020

Katie Scott MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2020

Alicia Navarrette MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Jake Mcintire MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Jessica Stein MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Jessica Riehl MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Olivia Guethling CD MFA Practicum 2015

Crystal Rome MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Emilie Skytta MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2014

Peter Tichnell MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2014

Colin Cheong MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016

Celina Coppetti Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Joel Newman Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Michelle Vorce Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Amanda Schurr Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Kailey Fry MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Alicia DeMellier MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2018

Jacob Richardson MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2014

Katie Mays CD MFA Practicum Spring 2013

Emma Conley CD MFA Practicum Spring 2013

Shannon Paine MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Melody Rowell MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Luke Zimmerman MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016

Matthew McCasland MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016

Asa Wright MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016