This fall, dance students in the creative dance with children and production class at SF State will be working with grade school children from the “Village” on a unique dance project. At the end of the semester they will present their work at a concert event -”New Moves Children’s Concert.”

The Village has several community locations that service the large public housing and low-income community of Visitacion Valley in San Francisco. The Village includes sites such as Boys & Girls Club, 350 Raymond, and John McLearn School. Many of the children in the program have never been exposed to dance and this will give them a new experience to art and expression.

“I want my students to go into the community and real world,” said Dr. Albirda Rose, professor of dance.

The dance program, which started in 2001, is sponsored by the School of Music and Dance at SF State, the Urban Institute, and the Office of Community Service Learning. Dr. Rose oversees this community program that brings SF State dance students together with community children.

The grant she wrote four years ago to the Office of Community Services Learning at SF State helped her start this program. Dr. Rose’s purpose is to give SF State students a unique opportunity to apply what they are learning in the community.

Dr. Rose explains that the concept is based on The Dunham model, which is used to implement this program, based on Katherine Dunham’s theories, and Methodologies of Socialization Through the Arts: and Intercultural Communication.

Dance majors who go on to masters or teaching credential programs are trained to be artists and educators. Dr. Rose has brought the real world to them and given them hands-on experience and knowledge.

The children benefit from this program by developing the performance sklls that enrich other areas of learning. Not only are her students learning how to teach kazz, modern, tap, and Irish styles of dance as well as producing the program, they are involved with the children in many other ways.

In order for the students and children to get to know each other, Dr. Rose encourages an introductory period.

“We don’t only teach dance to children, we do homework, read to them, and help with them with math,” said Dr. Rose.

Sheila Hill, coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club, said in a recent interview that the dance program has improved the quality of life for many children at the center.

“The only dance the kids see is on BET and MTV,” said Hill.

Hill explained that Dr. Rose shows the children that there is more than one type of dance, not just what they see on TV.

SF State dance students spend time tutoring the children before and after the dance lesson, Hill said. Many of the children come from different backgrounds and cultures they tend to shy away easily.

This year oratorical sessions will be offered to the children to help them with speech and public speaking. Hill explained that this will help the children boost their confidence and help them perform.

The parents of the children are also very happy and excited about the program that their children are in. They appreciate the support and patience they receive from Dr. Rose and the SF State students and know they can depend on them if needed.

Hill’s young son, Tryari Robertson, is in Dr. Rose’s dance program. She explained that Tryari is an active child diagnosed with attention deficient disorder and at times very difficult for her to manage.

“I couldn’t keep Tryari still for a few seconds,” said Hill.

Dr. Rose’s 14-year-old son Joshua, who is studying to be a musician, took a personal liking to the boy and taught him how to tap dance. Today Tryari is doing well in school, he is focused, and has more confidence than before. Hill’s own experience is proof that this type of program is very effective and a blessing for the children.

Jessica Lagedrost, a junior majoring in physical education, with a concentration in dance is one of Dr. Rose’s students who will be learning to teach dance to children.

“We will work with children to teach them how to create their own movements,” said Lagedrost.

The emphasis of the physical and mental process of dance will be applied and therefore, children formulate and learn their own movements of expression.

Lagedrost is learning to teach name chants using sound and various body movements and how to make music with clapping.

Lagedrost is excited about her first semester of dance class and is looking forward to working with the children in the community. She feels dance is an important part of children’s early stages of development and plans to teach dance to children after she graduates.

“When children create they find the beauty inside themselves,” said Lagedrost.

Dr. Rose will continue her work for as long as she can because of the importance and value of the program. She hopes to see this program turn into a children’s dance company.

“SF State is the people’s University and we need to give back to the community,” Dr. Rose said of the future of the program.

Last week the dance students made their visit to the Village and will be introduced to the children in the next few weeks when the program begins. On November 21, 2004, at 3 p.m, The New Move’s Children’s Concert will perform a free show at McKenna Theatre in the Creative Art Building on the San Francisco State University campus.