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Transcript/ScriptCONNECT Teaching Dance (TV)
HEADLINE: Teaching More than Dance
TEASER: A teacher provides lessons in dance and improving wellness
PUBLISHED AT: 07/11/2022
BYLINE: Faiza ElMasry
DATELINE: Reston, Virginia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Adam Greenbaum
PRODUCER: Adam Greenbaum, Zdenko Novacki
COURTESIES:
SCRIPT EDITORS: EA
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:03
VID APPROVED BY: EA
TYPE: VPKGF
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((Eds: This is a self-narrated feature.))
((INTRO))
((A high school dance teacher in Virginia provides lessons not just in the arts but life as well. VOA’s Faiza ElMasry talks with her about how she creates an environment for her students to express themselves, and some of her wellness strategies that go beyond the classroom. ))
((NATS: Lisa))
We’re going to start our choreography unit officially today. We did some of the choreography last week.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
My name is Lisa Girdy. And I am the dance specialist here at South Lakes High School. And I also teach Yoga for Wellness and Strategies for Success.
((NATS: Lisa))
We’re going to do a combination with the musicality again like the one we did last week with that one.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
In the dance classes, typically you would think of just learning technique, different styles of dances. But we go beyond that. We talk about the history behind the dancing and we talk about how to compose dances and how to put them together.
((NATS: Lisa))
Respect. We’ve talked about that a lot lately. Compromise.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
And all the different emotions and life skills that they will learn through learning to compromise and be respectful with each other and share ideas and yet being vulnerable.
((NATS: Lisa))
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
You can take suggestions from other people but the tone that they are delivered in is really important.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
I try to create a safe environment for everyone that's not judgmental so they can express themselves the way they like to.
((NATS: Lisa))
Down up. Spin all the way around. Drag your shoulder.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
So, they learn much, much more beyond just how to dance. They learn why they're dancing and how they can use that in other areas of their lives.
((NATS: Lisa))
Six. Seven. Eight.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
We teach just about everything. Because we have such a diverse student body, I try to reach out into different cultures and not just the ballet, tap and jazz and lyrical and modern. But we go into cultural dancing. And I…it gives them an opportunity to share and teach others what they're used to. So, we touch on all different styles of dance.
((NATS: Lisa))
One. Two. Three. Four.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
We've done African dancing. We've done Latin. We've done a whole unit on learning how to salsa and how to merengue and bachata and things like that. And so many of my students are Latin that they really enjoy being part of that and sharing their culture with us.
((Courtesy: Lisa Girdy))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
It allows me to move in the space with control. It gives me an opportunity to express myself without necessarily having to speak but in a way that people can still understand and relate. It allows me to release anything that might have been holding me back, any negative feelings. And it's a really interesting chemical change in my body.
((NATS: Lisa))
One. Two. Three. Four. Arms. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.
((Lisa Girdy, South Lakes High School Teacher of the Year))
As long as your heart is beating, you can dance. And even if it's a different rhythm and it doesn't look like it makes sense to somebody else, that's okay. It doesn't have to. It's not that structured. You know, there are types of dances that are but dance itself is so raw and authentic and pure that I definitely think anybody can dance. Absolutely.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Reston, Virginia
Embargo DateJuly 11, 2022 15:57 EDT
BylineFaiza ElMasry, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
