62 DIASPORA EDUCATION AND TRAINING
REACHING STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS
MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS OF DANCE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA EDUCATION AT KEY STAGE 3 AND 4
BY ALISON RAY MA FOUNDER OF ALISON RAY DANCE COMPANY WWW.ALISONRAYDANCECOMPANY.CO.UK For suggestions on practitioners who deliver high quality school workshops in dance of the African Diaspora in your area, or for teacher resources and advice, contact: info@onedanceuk.org
The teaching of DAD styles in schools is extremely important in order to develop a cultural understanding of their history and techniques. We can engage students by connecting them with an appreciation of diverse dance styles, and for some, show the range of opportunities to create a fruitful career in the dance industry.
HOW DO WE DEFINE DANCE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA? Dance styles of the African Diaspora originate from the African Peoples’ cultural dances. Over time they have evolved and can be identified in different guises around the world. They include Afrobeat, dancehall, tap, hip hop and other street dance styles, jazz, modern dance, Latin styles such as salsa and tango, Caribbean dance styles and more. TEACHING DAD STYLES IN KS3 AND KS4 Teachers of dance in the secondary school sector are often under pressure to ensure the subject is maintained on the curriculum. So, dance teachers are challenged with creating an engaging curriculum at Key Stage 3 (KS3), which should inform options at KS4 for GCSE Dance. Hence, dance of the African Diaspora will often be delivered in the most ‘popular’ styles: street dance, stomp, Capoeira, and contemporary/modern.
