Dr. Albrida Rose, a professor of dance, announced Monday Oct. 4, that she and three of her student teachers will be presenting at the 6th Annual National Dance Education Organization Conference at Michigan State University.

For first time SF State faculty and students will be attending this national conference and will show case their project and methodology in front of a panel of peers and professionals titled, “It Does Take a Village to Raise A Child,” a collaborate project between her dance students and community children.

“This project benefits the children, future teachers, community, and SF State,” said Dr. Rose.

The conference is sponsored by the National Dance Education Organization a Non-profit organization that promotes excellence in dance education and instruction. They service a large area of dance teachers and educators as well, private dance studios.

The conference theme is Merging Worlds: Dance, Education, Society and Politics. Both will share the outcome and methodology of their project will be shared by SF State students who have been involved in the program one or three years.

They will give an in-depth summary of their experiences with the children, parents, and directors, and supervisors of each site in the “Village.” Each site is facilitated by student teachers in Master programs along with SF State dance and production students. Dr. Rose oversees all three sites.

“This is a partnership between youth and students,” said Dr. Rose, “It is to enhance learning and knowing,” she said.

Graduate student Natalie Freitas, is a student teacher who will discuss her experience at 50 Raymond, one of the sites at the “Village.”

“The children were excited to move and dance,” said Freitas, who will discuss how she has interacted with the children and applied the methods of socialization.

There are 40 children in her dance class who are very active who are a challenge to somewhat shy who look at the floor when they speak..

She explains how she starts and ends each class with the children in a circle, which she calls her community exercise. Many of the children remember her from last year and feel comfortable around her.

“Since I grew up in the suburbs this is a unique opportunity for me,” said Freitas, “It’s a different experience I appreciate,” she said.

Samantha Luster, who was not presented at the meeting, however, Dr. Rose gave a brief of what she will present. Luster is also a student teacher who works with the children at Holy Angeles, a private school in San Francisco.

“Samantha works under challenging conditions,” said Dr. Rose.

The children at Holy Angeles do not have an indoor facility to practice their dance lesson; they practice outside in the yard on the asphalt. When it rains they must practice in one of the small classrooms inside.

Katrina Morin, is another student teacher who works with the children at John McLearn school who was assigned the responsibility of writing and documenting the discussion and presentation which will run in the Journal of Dance Education (JODE).

Those attending the conference are Dr. Abrida Rose, and student teachers, Natalie Freitas, Katrina Morin, and Samantha Luster. The conference will take place at Michigan State University October 20 – 24, 2004. Dr. Rose and her students will present on Friday, October 22, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.