exCHANGE

exCHANGE is a two-part program designed to introduce Pre K-12 students to the worlds of creative movement, contemporary dance, and kinesthetic learning.  The program introduces the basic tools and terms of dance through activities structured to increase curiosity, creative problem solving, communication, teamwork, trust, and respect. No prior experience or dance training is necessary for students to fully participate in the workshop.

exCHANGE sessions are unique to each class as they are carefully designed based on age, size, teacher requests, current common core standards, and the relation to the current work of the company.  For each of its performance series, GroundWorks collaborates with three local schools through the exCHANGE program.  GroundWorks has completed our exCHANGE program with over 4,000 students in the Cleveland and Akron areas since 2003.  The program takes place in 2 steps:

  1. GroundWorks visits a school for a period-long creative movement session with the Education and Community Engagement Coordinator and GroundWorks artists.  During the session the students will work directly with the company artists to create their own 2-minute movement studies.
  2. Students travel to the GroundWorks performance venue the morning of the show for an interactive performance/demonstration with the entire GroundWorks company.  The highlight of this performance/demonstration is the opportunity for the students to present their movement studies on our professional stage as well as the opportunity to see the artists of GroundWorks DanceTheater perform a work for them free of charge! Parents of the workshop students will be extended an invitation to attend the performance to witness the accomplishments of their children.

Goals for the program include:

  • To enrich the quality of exchange between our artists and our communities.
  • To provide students with the rare opportunity to perform on a professional standard stage.
  • To expose students and educators to the value of arts integrated learning.
  • To encourage creative choice making by challenging students in a new and stimulating ways.
  • To support student creativity and collaboration in a supportive environment.

To learn more or inquire about bringing an exCHANGE experience to your school, please email our Education Director Joan Meggitt at joan@groundworksdance.org