Moving Stories Off the Page
Instructor Combines Literacy & Dance in New K-5 Enrichment Program
Today, it seems the only things school kids do less than read for pleasure is exercise. Video games and the Internet keep many kids indoors and sedentary, and books can’t compete with the immediacy of MySpace.
To help kids develop an interest in reading and exercise, dancer Lori Hardacker has designed an enrichment program for schools, libraries, and bookstores in southern Maine, New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts that combines storytelling and creative movement.
Her company, Dance Parties and Fitness in Motion, has brought innovative movement and fitness classes into preschools and daycare centers throughout New England. In this interview, she discusses how stories and dance can work together to help kids learn.
Lori Hardacker Moves Stories Off the Page Using Basic Dance Instruction
What is “Moving Stories off the Page?”
“Moving the Story off the Page” is an enrichment program designed for children in preschool through the fifth grade. I go in with a book or story, props, and music. We read, and then we get up and move. In most enrichment programs, kids just sit and watch a performance. They don’t get a chance to get up and participate.
What would a typical program consist of?
Most readings relate somehow to dance, e.g. a book on ballet or a story about Hawaii used to teach basic hula dancing. I bring shakers, jump ropes, masks, and musical instruments and teach basic movements and motor skills. Our main props are the body and the imagination; the jump ropes may be snakes we have to jump over. Two ropes might make a river we have to leap across. We also sing and improvise. The program lasts an hour.
What are your hopes for this program?
L.H. I hope my program can help counter societal trends in schools, such as childhood obesity, the elimination of recess, cutbacks in gym, and children’s increasing investment of time and energy to passive pursuits like video games and online chat.
What’s your professional background?
L.H. I graduated from Roger Williams University with a BA in Dance. I minored in Theatre. For four years, I owned Topsfield Dance Academy where I taught creative movement, tap, ballet, jazz and lyrical to two year olds through adults. I also choreographed and performed for many dinner and community theatres.
Is Literacy in Motion your only product?
No, I need to be flexible. I teach after-school dance-and-movement programs in southern New Hampshire and will soon offer teachers afternoon fitness classes in school. Teaching is tiring and many don’t have time to go the gym. My company’s full name is “Dance Parties and Fitness in Motion:” I facilitate themed birthday parties (e.g. sports, hip-hop, Hannah Montana), taking care of all details but food offering entertainment and movement-based games.
Even during a recession, parents and schools invest in children’s programs, so Hardacker is confident that her business will grow, and that her approach will inspire kids to turn off the computer and move.
Dancer Lori Hardacker's Stories Get Kids Moving
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K-5 Enrichment Program Adds Exercise to Learning
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