Jan Baker is a Music and Movement educator with 30 years of experience in Texas public schools. An active member and past officer of the North Texas Orff chapter and the American Orff Schulwerk Association, Jan has taught movement including everything from pre-ballet to high school flag corps to Jazzercise to her recent love of traditional dances from all over the world.
She has presented professional development sessions of traditional dances for the American Orff Schulwerk Association, Texas Music Educators Association, North Texas Chapter of AOSA, Tennessee Arts Academy, Kodaly Educators of Texas, Texas A&M University-Commerce and various Texas school districts. Jan has served her local chapter of AOSA in various positions and served as a Region Representative in both Texas Music Educators Association and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.
She has presented professional development sessions of traditional dances for the American Orff Schulwerk Association, Texas Music Educators Association, North Texas Chapter of AOSA, Tennessee Arts Academy, Kodaly Educators of Texas, Texas A&M University-Commerce and various Texas school districts. Jan has served her local chapter of AOSA in various positions and served as a Region Representative in both Texas Music Educators Association and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.
Everybody Dance Now!
Come experience movement activities designed to engage students physically, musically, mentally and socially! Participants will come away with a repertoire of creative movement activities, traditional dances and games, and classroom management ideas and a sequence for success.
What is “traditional dance”? It includes International folk dances, play parties, contradances, square dances, English country dance, and scatter and circle mixers. Every culture and time period has its own traditional dances, songs and games. Participation in these traditional games and dances can help build community, collaboration and cooperation, create interpersonal connections, and help students focus and learn problem solving skills and practice good manners and consideration of others.
Musically, participants will be able to help students experience beat, rhythm, meter, form, sequencing and the simple joy of moving to a variety of musical styles and cultures. Connections to other curriculum areas such as history, social studies and math are also common benefits to learning traditional dances.
What is “traditional dance”? It includes International folk dances, play parties, contradances, square dances, English country dance, and scatter and circle mixers. Every culture and time period has its own traditional dances, songs and games. Participation in these traditional games and dances can help build community, collaboration and cooperation, create interpersonal connections, and help students focus and learn problem solving skills and practice good manners and consideration of others.
Musically, participants will be able to help students experience beat, rhythm, meter, form, sequencing and the simple joy of moving to a variety of musical styles and cultures. Connections to other curriculum areas such as history, social studies and math are also common benefits to learning traditional dances.