Sparkplug Dance Winter Newsletter
WINTER SESSION BEGINS JANUARY 17
Could someone please turn on the lights? While it may be dark and dreary outside, we can make our own energy in the classroom!
So what have we been up to?
OUTREACH
It’s been a busy fall for Sparkplug Dance! You may have seen us making take-home projects and generally causing mayhem at Diva’s dance and art parties. Perhaps you enjoyed drizzly scarf dancing at Birth to Three’s 20th birthday celebration. Maybe you shared an afternoon of health and safety with Kids Day America or danced with homeless families at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. You might be one of the fine parents or teachers at Willamette High School, where we just wrapped up a three-day teen parent workshop that included a developmental movement class, staff training, and baby-toddler dance class. Sparkplug Dance has volunteered all of these hours and would like to offer a special thanks to the registered students who are able and willing to pay the top end of the sliding scale, as well as to our generous donors. You all help to make it possible to offer these programs and to provide scholarships for families in need.
GREAT NEW DIGS
It has been terrific to nestle into comfy new teaching spaces this fall. We’ve enjoyed making weekly noise at Hilyard Community Center, Petersen Park Barn, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. In addition to friendly staff, these spaces each have their own special appeal to the little movers. Hilyard has a cool fish tank (feeding time is usually after dance class), Petersen Barn has a terrific playground, and St. Mary’s Episcopal has a courtyard that reminded one dancer of “the house where Madeline lives!” From Spencer’s Butte to Bethel, it is great to be able to reach so many neighborhoods in Eugene.
HAVE SCARVES/WILL TRAVEL
Sparkplug has been making the rounds at the local libraries, shaking our maracas and singing like there’s no tomorrow at the Bethel, Sheldon, and Downtown Eugene Public Library family music times. Library patrons at the smaller branches have watched admiringly as we have belted out a good “Skip to my Lou.” Even if you still chew on your library card or don’t have one yet, we may have boogied together: When we offered Baby Dance Time at the downtown branch earlier this fall, the babies brought the house down with their over-the-top cuteness.
AHEM, LET’S GET SERIOUS
Rachael Carnes, who keeps it real doing the “Happy Little Lizard Dance” multiple times a week (if you do not know it, you should!), also took time out this fall to attend trainings and present to others. Leaving her two-year-old in the capable hands of Daddy, she attended a train-the-trainer session at Portland State University for childcare provider network trainers working with populations with special needs. In conjunction with the Childcare Referral Network at Lane Community College, Rachael offered a developmental movement workshop to early childhood educators. Rachael also presented to over 90 attendees at the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children. She also offered a chance for PE teachers at the Oregon Association of Health, PE, Recreation and Dance to get busy making some dance. Regarding conferences, a wise person once said, "The brain can absorb what the butt can endure." All the attendees proved that they were ready to learn in a hands-on way through dancing!
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Rachael also worked with Dr. Carol Marusich and her associates at Lifetime Eye Care to begin a regional group focused on early childhood brain growth and development. They gathered an initial network of professionals dedicated to early movement patterns as a key to cognitive, social, and emotional integration. The group is excited to welcome additional participants.
BOARD MEMBERS DON SILLY HATS AND HAVE FUN
On November 20th, 2004, the Sparkplug Board of Directors along with tremendous volunteers from the soon-to-be re-opened Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (http://jsma.uoregon.edu), put together a super-fun party to celebrate a kick-off season of dancing with Sparkplug students. (See pictures of the festivities on our website). When they’re not wearing their silly hats and dancing with all the kids, the board oversees the Sparkplug Dance organization and manages its responsibilities as a 501(c)3 non-profit. Who are the 2004-2005 board members? Your friends and neighbors: Corlies Delf, Michele Clesse, Carole Patterson, Alice Parman, Ben Brinkley, Katie Sproles, Diane Prichard, Julie Manela and Robin Terranova. Board members encourage your input and interest in upcoming projects.
What’s in store for winter?
WORKSHOPS
On January 15, Rachael has been invited to teach another early-childhood education workshop for LCC about learning the three R’s through movement. (Register at www.lanecc.edu/lfc ). Then, along with the teen parent program staff from Willamette High School, Rachael will attend The Oregon Department of Education’s annual conference for Teen Parent and Child Development Program Coordinators. This year’s topic is early brain development. Rachael plans to present at the Spring OAEYC conference when it’s right here in Eugene. (Check out the spring conference at www.oregonaeyc.org ). She will also present at the statewide Provider Resources Organization’s annual conference on March 5 in West Linn. And hoping to bring some students along for the fun, Sparkplug Dance will be dancing up a storm at the UO Cultural Forum’s Disability Awareness conference April 21 and 22 (Look for more info at http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~cultural/ ).
CLASSES
Sparkplug Dance offers creative, concept-based, brain-compatible classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers (including a new evening class), kids, teens, and adults (African dance is great for treating seasonal affective disorder!) Find class descriptions right here on the web page.
See you in 2005!
- The Sparkplug Elves (to speak to a human, call 541-689-3233)
This site's accessibility is compliant with WAI AAA standards & U.S. Section 508 guidelines. Click the following links to validate this site's [HTML4.01] and [CSS]. Site designed by Blue Ribbon Bulletins
