The Whole Child Dance Method™
The Dancing Brain!
By the time a child is 5 years old, 90% of the neural pathways in the brain will be set for LIFE! Before a child can speak, before a child can crawl, before a child, can walk, before a child can dance....a child MOVES. From the moment we are born, our sensory system begins to send messages to our brain building powerful brain connections that inform us of our world and how we interact within in it. That’s why at Dance to Learn® the CHILD is our teacher and our Methodology dances in tune to their steps.
The Developmental Domains
At Dance to Learn®we place the focus of dance education where it belongs: ON THE CHILD!
Our Whole Child Dance Method™ focuses on the Five Developmental Domains:
- Cognitive Development: The Dance to Learn® Curriculum focuses on Brain Development and how children build brain connections for nowledge comprehension and retention. Our Conceptualized-Thematic approach is a direct correlation of combinging dance & neurological development.
- Motor Development: The Dance to Learn® Curriculum follows the Developmental Milestone Map when determining gross and fine motor skills that are appropriate for the child’s age and stage of development. Our Progressive Technical SKill System ensures mastery of movement to ensure steps aren’t missed along a dancers’ technical journey.
- Sensory Development At Dance to Learn® we understand the complex sensory system and the importance of sensory stimuili in building and retaining strong neuro pathways. This understanding paves the foundation for our sensory enriched Curriculum.
- Social/Emotional Development: Understanding the basic needs of the child and how they interact with others is important to the continued development and implementation of any dance program. This knowledge assists in the implementation of classroom management routines, class flow and communication.
- Language Development: Speaking and communicating with children in the way the know and understand is imperative to a successful foundational dance program. Too many Dance Curriculums ignore the importance of language development in the art of teaching the early dance years and how it can negatively impact a child’s success.