Post by Okwes on Dec 2, 2006 11:05:58 GMT -5
Movement with meaning
Dance class also teaches students about American Indian culture
By THERESA WINSLOW, Staff Writer
With hops, spins and bounces, a small group of children got a literal jump start on Native American History Month last week.
The elementary school-age group of 18 took a class on American Indian dance at the South Anne Arundel County Dance Conservatory. It's the second year the studio has offered the class for children ages 7 to 11. A similar class for ages 12 to adult will be offered for the third consecutive year this week.
"It makes me feel great," said the instructor, Keith Colston of Baltimore, a former commissioner on the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs and a member of the Tuscarora-Lumbee tribe. "It's another way, in a positive manner, to let people know what Indian people are about."
The classes are a result of Mr. Colston's association with J. Davis Hobdy, school director of the conservatory. Mr. Hobdy is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and learned of Mr. Colston at the 2004 opening ceremonies for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
One of Mr. Hobdy's missions at the studio is to spread cultural awareness, and he said Mr. Colston's dance classes mesh nicely with that goal.
In his two-hour classes, Mr. Colston doesn't merely teach different dance moves; he explains the purpose behind them and their cultural significance. "(Some people) think dancing is just something we do, that it's just an activity," he said. "For us, it's a way of life."
Mr. Colston taught the children both traditional and "fancy" forms of dance, and explained how the men and women of a tribe would participate in them. "It's not just drumming around the campfire at night," he said. "It's not just about jumping up and down."
At one point Mr. Colston compared American Indian dance to "prayer in motion," although he said that some dances have a celebratory aspect as well.
He didn't begin his class with music or a dance demonstration, though. Instead, he discussed principles like honor and respect, which parents said they particularly liked.
"He puts on a terrific class," said Joanne Healey Howl, den leader for Cub Scout Pack 840 of Lothian. "It's not just introducing the boys and girls to dance, but respect, honor and responsibility."
Ms. Howl also said that the boys seem to take to Native American dance a little more readily than other forms of dance because Mr. Colston emphasizes that they are moving as warriors.
Most of the children who took this year's class were either from Ms. Howl's pack or were Girl Scouts from Troop 2150 of Shady Side.
"It's very fun," said troop member Tamara Ferguson, 10. "It keeps you going ... and it tells you what they do."
She and the other children also said American Indian dancing was harder than "regular" dancing because of its heavy aerobic content.
"I think it's very good for exercising," Sarah Rothhaas, 8, of Shady Side, said as she caught her breath during a break.
Mr. Colston used recorded drum beats and singing for the class. He wandered around the studio as the children practiced, watching their form and correcting any missteps.
He told them that one of the keys is to listen and move with the beat. "It's no different than other music," he explained. "There's beat and rhythm."
Mr. Colston said he wasn't trying to give a complete class on American Indian culture. Rather, he said, his goal was to give them enough information to understand the meaning behind some ceremonial dances.
"I've learned that it's not just about hopping around," said Elena Hein, 9, of West River.
Ryan Munson, 9, of Lothian, who has some Cheyenne heritage, said the both the dances and the music were unlike anything he hears on the radio - and that was good.
"I learned that (Native Americans) really bond with the planet and that they're very spiritual," he said.
---
The American Indian dance class for ages 12 to adult will be taught from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the South Anne Arundel County Dance Conservatory, 5952 Deale-Churchton Road in Deale. The fee is $10 per person. For more information, call the studio at 410-353-8301.
- No Jumps-
Published November 12, 2006, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2006 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Dance class also teaches students about American Indian culture
By THERESA WINSLOW, Staff Writer
With hops, spins and bounces, a small group of children got a literal jump start on Native American History Month last week.
The elementary school-age group of 18 took a class on American Indian dance at the South Anne Arundel County Dance Conservatory. It's the second year the studio has offered the class for children ages 7 to 11. A similar class for ages 12 to adult will be offered for the third consecutive year this week.
"It makes me feel great," said the instructor, Keith Colston of Baltimore, a former commissioner on the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs and a member of the Tuscarora-Lumbee tribe. "It's another way, in a positive manner, to let people know what Indian people are about."
The classes are a result of Mr. Colston's association with J. Davis Hobdy, school director of the conservatory. Mr. Hobdy is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and learned of Mr. Colston at the 2004 opening ceremonies for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
One of Mr. Hobdy's missions at the studio is to spread cultural awareness, and he said Mr. Colston's dance classes mesh nicely with that goal.
In his two-hour classes, Mr. Colston doesn't merely teach different dance moves; he explains the purpose behind them and their cultural significance. "(Some people) think dancing is just something we do, that it's just an activity," he said. "For us, it's a way of life."
Mr. Colston taught the children both traditional and "fancy" forms of dance, and explained how the men and women of a tribe would participate in them. "It's not just drumming around the campfire at night," he said. "It's not just about jumping up and down."
At one point Mr. Colston compared American Indian dance to "prayer in motion," although he said that some dances have a celebratory aspect as well.
He didn't begin his class with music or a dance demonstration, though. Instead, he discussed principles like honor and respect, which parents said they particularly liked.
"He puts on a terrific class," said Joanne Healey Howl, den leader for Cub Scout Pack 840 of Lothian. "It's not just introducing the boys and girls to dance, but respect, honor and responsibility."
Ms. Howl also said that the boys seem to take to Native American dance a little more readily than other forms of dance because Mr. Colston emphasizes that they are moving as warriors.
Most of the children who took this year's class were either from Ms. Howl's pack or were Girl Scouts from Troop 2150 of Shady Side.
"It's very fun," said troop member Tamara Ferguson, 10. "It keeps you going ... and it tells you what they do."
She and the other children also said American Indian dancing was harder than "regular" dancing because of its heavy aerobic content.
"I think it's very good for exercising," Sarah Rothhaas, 8, of Shady Side, said as she caught her breath during a break.
Mr. Colston used recorded drum beats and singing for the class. He wandered around the studio as the children practiced, watching their form and correcting any missteps.
He told them that one of the keys is to listen and move with the beat. "It's no different than other music," he explained. "There's beat and rhythm."
Mr. Colston said he wasn't trying to give a complete class on American Indian culture. Rather, he said, his goal was to give them enough information to understand the meaning behind some ceremonial dances.
"I've learned that it's not just about hopping around," said Elena Hein, 9, of West River.
Ryan Munson, 9, of Lothian, who has some Cheyenne heritage, said the both the dances and the music were unlike anything he hears on the radio - and that was good.
"I learned that (Native Americans) really bond with the planet and that they're very spiritual," he said.
---
The American Indian dance class for ages 12 to adult will be taught from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the South Anne Arundel County Dance Conservatory, 5952 Deale-Churchton Road in Deale. The fee is $10 per person. For more information, call the studio at 410-353-8301.
- No Jumps-
Published November 12, 2006, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2006 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.