Artists in Schools New Plymouth Girls High School

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Artists in SchoolsNew Plymouth Girls High School

• Dance artist Virginia Adams works with 21 year 9
  students to create a Cultural Extravaganza

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About the school

• New Plymouth Girls High School is a decile 7
  school with a roll of 1,280 students.
• In 2007 the school initiated a Cultural
  Extravaganza which they expanded in 2008 into a
  weeks celebration of the many cultures and
  talents represented by their students.
• Dance is a new curriculum area for NPGHS in 2008.
  
• Professional dance artist and teacher
  Virginia Adams introduced a group of year 9
  students to the fundamentals of dance while
  working towards a performance as part of the
  schools cultural celebrations.

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What the artist discovered

• I was creatively and intellectually challenged to
  pitch a choreographic work at the right level for
  a group of largely untrained year 9 students. The
  result was a powerful, competently danced
  performance by every one of the girls.
• I had the pleasure of introducing untrained
  dancers to the contemporary dance genre and
  watching them blossom into elegant, confident
  dancers with stage presence, sharing their
  enjoyment of their accomplishments, as well as
  the warm response they received from the
  audience.
• At last I have been paid an amount commensurate
  with my worth as a dancer and dance teacher of
  30 years of experience. To be appropriately
  valued by the education sector, in monetary
  terms, for my contribution to the holistic
  well-being of students is enormously gratifying.
• By having the aura of an experienced dancer and
  not being part of the school establishment it was
  easy to establish a respectful, extremely
  productive working relationship with the girls.
• The relationship developed between me and the
  teacher was relaxed and responsive.
• I was able to add significantly to her
  dance and music repertoire. Her assiduous back-up
  meant I could adapt smoothly to working in the
  NPGHS structure and have everything I required at
  my fingertips.

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What the teacher discovered

• For myself as a new dance teacher Virginia
  modelled many ways of teaching the students as
  well as involving me with the choreography from
  the initial idea to the finished product.
• This project firmly established dance in the
  curriculum as a valid and worthwhile subject.
• Students who were struggling in other subjects
  regularly attended this class. Teachers often
  commented on their behaviour in dance as opposed
  to how they were with them in mainstream classes.
• At the Cultural Extravaganza we were able to
  demonstrate how disciplined and focused these
  girls were. They had tremendous pride in their
  achievement as most had never performed in public
  before.
• You gave us freedom with the budget which was
  beneficial in terms of resourcing the project and
  ongoing needs.
• Thank you for allowing us to be part of this
  fantastic incentive.

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What the students thought learned

• It wasnt just her dance. It was everyones. You
  could put, like, ideas into it.
• We learned how to acknowledge other people around
  us. Its not just focusing on our bits.
• She taught us how to look good on stage.
• Virginia wasnt just our teacher. She was our
  friend as well.
• She doesnt have to follow all the rules. She
  knows how to have fun with us.
• Its good cos its always different. She can
  make up moves, right on the spot.
• She makes you feel special. She gives you your
  own part to do so you can stand out.
• The ideas relate to us.
• We felt proud of ourselves, getting up on stage.
• We learned focus, self discipline how to work
  with other people.
• We learned how you have to have different
  attitudes in the different dance styles