In this virtual workshop led by teaching artist Chitra Subramanian, students explore the connection between dance and storytelling as they respond to images of animal sculptures in Hillwood’s art collection. Through creative movement activities, students reflect on qualities associated with different animals – such as bravery, creativity, and loyalty – and discover how gesture and body language can express ideas and emotions.
After participating in this field trip, students will be better able to:
• Demonstrate how movement and gesture can communicate stories, ideas, and emotions without words
• Discuss how different animals can represent values, character traits, and aspects of identity
• Identify personal strengths, build self-awareness, and express aspects of their own identity through creative movement
Program agenda:
5 min | Greeting and opening grounding activity
• Start with a grounding breathing meditation – Roots Like a Tree (a Bharatanatyam-inspired movement)
• Introduce Marjorie Post as “A Builder of BIG Ideas, Creative Visionary, and Lover of People, Art and Animals!” (this is done as a call & response phrase and includes associated movements/gestures)
10 min | A Story of Friendship
• Through Marjorie Post’s love of dogs, students explore the value of friendship/ companionship/ family.
• Also explore bird imagery on art at Hillwood and consider how birds are soaring and free.
• Chitra leads students in a “Dog & Bird Duet” of movement phrases inspired by these qualities represented by dogs and birds.
• With each activity, Chitra will give students a prompt to reflect on how this value or quality is present in their personal lives.
10 min | Wisdom
• Look at a statue of a sphinx, associated with hidden wisdom, knowledge, and power.
• Consider the wisdom and knowledge Marjorie Post needed to be a businesswoman, especially in a time when this was not common for women.
• Act out creative movement that represents the sphinx, as well as other mythological creatures.
10 min | Grace & Strength
• Look at statues of a lion and of a swan.
• Learn about Marjorie Post being graceful, strong, powerful and courageous in showing empathy and helping others.
• Act out creative movements associated with these animals.
10 min | Full Movement Sequence & Conclusion
• Chitra will lead students in connecting the movements from each activity to tell a full and complete story.