Dance to Express
Not to Impress
Dent Middle School Dance is directed by Shantelle Graham. The dance program is one of the strands in the Dent Middle School Fame Program.
Dear Parents and dancing diamonds:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2019-2020 School Year. I sincerely hope you and your child are looking forward to an exciting year.
In an effort to save resources, I have all of my course sylabi online. I will review in class each grade level syllabus and respectfully ask that you fill out and return the requested information on ce you have viewed and gone overt the information with you child at home.
If you would like a hard copy of the syllabus please email me and I will send it home with your dancer.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2019-2020 School Year. I sincerely hope you and your child are looking forward to an exciting year.
In an effort to save resources, I have all of my course sylabi online. I will review in class each grade level syllabus and respectfully ask that you fill out and return the requested information on ce you have viewed and gone overt the information with you child at home.
If you would like a hard copy of the syllabus please email me and I will send it home with your dancer.
6th Grade Introduction to Dance: Dance in Our World : offered as a semester long course
This course will allow students to learn and explore formal dance styles (ballet and modern) as well as dance style from around the world. Previous dance experience is not required. This class is designed to introduce students to various dance styles, build basic technique skills, and to help students gain an appreciation for dance. It allows students to improve their performance skills in order to participate in and/or audition for higher level dance courses.
Students will learn basic skills and techniques to begin their dance education as well as dance history and theory.
This course will allow students to learn and explore formal dance styles (ballet and modern) as well as dance style from around the world. Previous dance experience is not required. This class is designed to introduce students to various dance styles, build basic technique skills, and to help students gain an appreciation for dance. It allows students to improve their performance skills in order to participate in and/or audition for higher level dance courses.
Students will learn basic skills and techniques to begin their dance education as well as dance history and theory.
7th and 8th Grade Making Dance Connections: offered as a semester long course;
This course will allow students will create, perform, observe and respond to dance. Students will explore methods of improvisation leading to creating their own dances. Students will work alone, with a partner and in groups to demonstrate movement relationships between individuals, shapes, rhythm, gesture tempo and mood. Students will learn to use dance as a way to communicate meaning. Students will compare and contrast dance in terms of space, time and movement qualities. Students will be encouraged to make connections between dance and the real word. The skills acquired in 7th grade Semester Dance I will be built upon in 8th grade Semester Dance II.
This course will allow students will create, perform, observe and respond to dance. Students will explore methods of improvisation leading to creating their own dances. Students will work alone, with a partner and in groups to demonstrate movement relationships between individuals, shapes, rhythm, gesture tempo and mood. Students will learn to use dance as a way to communicate meaning. Students will compare and contrast dance in terms of space, time and movement qualities. Students will be encouraged to make connections between dance and the real word. The skills acquired in 7th grade Semester Dance I will be built upon in 8th grade Semester Dance II.
7th and 8th Grade Advanced Dance:
This course is an audition-based course. This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to create, perform, observe and respond to dance. Students will continue to explore movement elements and skills representative of a variety of dance styles, study the social cultural and historical dimensions of dance, experiment with choreographic principals, processes and structures with the supervision of the dance specialist. Students will work independently and collaboratively to perform, view and analyze dance works. Students will be engaged in projects that develop connections between dance and healthful living and dance relationships with other disciplines. This is a performance class. Students will perform in two showcases during the process of this course. The skills acquired in 7th grade Advanced Dance I will be built upon in 8th grade Advanced Dance II. In addition to this previous descriptions, 8th grade Advanced Dance II also prepares students for high school dance programs.
This course is an audition-based course. This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to create, perform, observe and respond to dance. Students will continue to explore movement elements and skills representative of a variety of dance styles, study the social cultural and historical dimensions of dance, experiment with choreographic principals, processes and structures with the supervision of the dance specialist. Students will work independently and collaboratively to perform, view and analyze dance works. Students will be engaged in projects that develop connections between dance and healthful living and dance relationships with other disciplines. This is a performance class. Students will perform in two showcases during the process of this course. The skills acquired in 7th grade Advanced Dance I will be built upon in 8th grade Advanced Dance II. In addition to this previous descriptions, 8th grade Advanced Dance II also prepares students for high school dance programs.
Little Bit About the Dance Director
Mrs. Shantelle Graham
I discovered my love of dance when I saw an African Dance Performance my senior year of High School. This performance motivated me to attend Columbia College where I received a BA in Dance. This gave me the opportunity to explore ballet, contemporary, jazz, African, Indian, and many other dance styles. When I graduated I began my dance career in Ballroom and Latin Dance at Fred Astire Dance Studio.
I then opened my dance studio, “Love of Dance,” in March of 2007, were I we offer; Latin: Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba; Rhythm: Shag, East Coast Swing; Ballroom: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango; Others: Hip Hop/Jazz, Line Dance, Beginning Yoga, Contemporary, and Ballet. Soon after I created a few dance companies: “Love of Dance Salsa Company”, “Mujeres de fuego”, and the “Junior Company”. These companies are to promote togetherness and allow dancers the knowledge that any and every one can dance. Love of Dance Companies allows the development of collaboration while teaching and educating its dancers. I look forward to sharing these same passions with the students, parents and staff members here at Dent Middle School.
I received my Master’s in Professional Counseling from South University in September 2008 and then had an opportunity to continue my love of teaching within our Richland School District Two. I began my career in our school district within the Richland Two Child Development program. I then became the dance teacher at Ridge View High School. I am now delighted to be in my second year at Dent Middle School as the Dance Director.
I am truly enjoying my time working with the parents, children, faculty/staff, schools and community within our district. I am very fortunate to work with such an awesome group of people who enjoy teaching and helping children and family develop and grow through education.
I have an incredible family which includes my husband, son and daughter. My family and I have a true “Love of Dance”. I believe that anyone and everyone can learn anything if they have the passion and drive, that includes dance.
I discovered my love of dance when I saw an African Dance Performance my senior year of High School. This performance motivated me to attend Columbia College where I received a BA in Dance. This gave me the opportunity to explore ballet, contemporary, jazz, African, Indian, and many other dance styles. When I graduated I began my dance career in Ballroom and Latin Dance at Fred Astire Dance Studio.
I then opened my dance studio, “Love of Dance,” in March of 2007, were I we offer; Latin: Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba; Rhythm: Shag, East Coast Swing; Ballroom: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango; Others: Hip Hop/Jazz, Line Dance, Beginning Yoga, Contemporary, and Ballet. Soon after I created a few dance companies: “Love of Dance Salsa Company”, “Mujeres de fuego”, and the “Junior Company”. These companies are to promote togetherness and allow dancers the knowledge that any and every one can dance. Love of Dance Companies allows the development of collaboration while teaching and educating its dancers. I look forward to sharing these same passions with the students, parents and staff members here at Dent Middle School.
I received my Master’s in Professional Counseling from South University in September 2008 and then had an opportunity to continue my love of teaching within our Richland School District Two. I began my career in our school district within the Richland Two Child Development program. I then became the dance teacher at Ridge View High School. I am now delighted to be in my second year at Dent Middle School as the Dance Director.
I am truly enjoying my time working with the parents, children, faculty/staff, schools and community within our district. I am very fortunate to work with such an awesome group of people who enjoy teaching and helping children and family develop and grow through education.
I have an incredible family which includes my husband, son and daughter. My family and I have a true “Love of Dance”. I believe that anyone and everyone can learn anything if they have the passion and drive, that includes dance.