Dance Bear on the Move! A unique telecollaboration links our youngest dancers worldwide By Pat Beaven Children studying ballet in Belarus, tap in Tennessee, Flamenco in France, or hip hop in Honduras are part of a broader tradition of kids dancing worldwide. Young dancers around the world have lots in common: all share the joy of moving, the fascination of learning through culture and music, and the fun of making new friends with a common interest. A Canadian initiative is helping young dance students feel part of this greater tradition of dancers taking class, studying, and performing worldwide. “Dance Bear on the Move!” is a project in the travel-buddy mode. Used exclusively in the public school system until now, travel-buddies are soft toys that travel the world via the postal system as representatives of their classrooms, reporting back on their adventures through the internet. Why a stuffed animal? A stuffed toy is a part of childhood, something familiar, a character children can identify with… providing a focus for sharing feelings and experiences. Borrowing and adapting the travel-buddy concept, we wanted to give children the opportunity to share their experience of dance in a meaningful and child-focused manner, communicating their excitement with others outside their own studio environment. An understanding and appreciation for the value of other cultures and dance forms, along with pride and knowledge of their own, would hopefully be the outcome. _________________________ Dance Bear has studied Middle Eastern dance in Toronto, Highland dance in Washington and West Virginia… and joined kids learning salsa in the Bahamas. _________________________ To celebrate International Dance Day 2005, Dance Bear - a cuddly teddy from Toronto, Canada - packed his bags and prepared to visit dance schools and studios around the globe. A website was designed, and teachers in all forms of dance were invited to host a two-week visit at their school, where Dance Bear would take part in classes and activities. Children create a progressive travel journal through on-line diary entries, digital photos, poems, drawings, etc. Involvement exposes children to culture and communities worldwide, nurtures an increased interest in geography, integrates concepts of technology and language learning, and instils an appreciation of our similarities and differences… and how we’re all connected through dance! Interest ran high from the start. Teachers in various forms of dance entered into the spirit of the project, and it became clear that dance schools were excited about hosting this visitor from afar. In the first six months, Dance Bear has studied Middle Eastern dance in Toronto, Highland dance in Washington and West Virginia, toured with a performing troupe through Northern California, jetted to New Zealand to take ballet class with young dancers there, and joined kids learning salsa in the Bahamas! Dance Bear has taken class, rehearsed for shows, had one-of-a-kind dance costumes designed and made-to-measure, attended competitions, and spent weekends and holidays with students to share in their home and family life as well. Next on the itinerary, it’s off to Edinburgh in Scotland for jazz and tap lessons – plus a side-trip to Glasgow and the Scottish Youth Dance Organization. From there, Dance Bear travels to the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Australia… and the invitations continue to arrive! A simple idea with potentially far-reaching implications, “Dance Bear on the Move!” illuminates the impact of dialogue and diversity and the culture-bridging power of dance in our lives. Children collaborate, communicate, celebrate… and forge a shared learning experience. To learn more – and follow Dance Bear’s adventures, go to www.mayada.ca/dancebear Pat Beaven is an actor, educator, and freelance journalist who revels in the spirit of cultural diversity where she makes her home in Toronto, Canada. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across North America; she has a special interest in culture-specific movement disciplines, and is a staff writer for several dance publications. This website: Copyright © 2006 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.