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The Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE) would like to express our interest and enthusiasm in meeting you, and your students this summer! If you’ve never heard of CODE, this is an opportunity to get to know us and the resources that can be available to you and your students if you choose a membership¹ to CODE - your provincial subject association. CODE is a not-for-profit based organization in Ontario working together to promote, support and advocate for Drama and Dance in education.

 

We believe:

 

... that specific Drama & Dance knowledge, skills and values are critical for learning at all levels of education, in Ontario.

... that Drama & Dance as art forms and as processes of learning integrate the curriculum and facilitate essential learning outcomes.

... that to be effective, all teachers must experience in-depth pre-service and in-service training in educational Drama and/or Dance both as subjects and as vehicles for integrated and cross-curricular studies.

... that it is essential for Drama & Dance teachers to develop partnerships with the educational and artistic communities and with the public.

Our goal, as stated in our by-laws, is to "encourage and support the development of drama and dance in education in Ontario". In short, our goal is ensuring you and your students have the support you need to reach your goals.

 

Our goal, as stated in our by-laws, is to "encourage and support the development of drama and dance in education in Ontario". In short, our goal is ensuring you and your students have the support you need to reach your goals.

 

To do this, we

• Promote strong arts education in schools and communities across Ontario
• Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among those involved in Drama and Dance in education
• Provide leadership and advocacy in Drama and Dance in education
• Provide professional development to those involved in Drama and Dance in education
• Cooperate with existing arts agencies and education organizations.

 

To accomplish these goals and objectives, we focus on several areas, two include:

• AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE with articles, resources, more than 300 lesson plans, links to arts organizations and more
• CODE CONFERENCE, an annual event for drama and dance educators. An exciting opportunity to participate in professional development and network with other educators in Ontario.

 

Opportunities to have a CODE representative visit your Additional Qualifications Course during July and Pre-Service Courses in August are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Spaces are limited. Please contact your Regional Representative listed in the CODE Board section of the website to specify your location and time period for a planned 15-20 minute presentation.

 

We are eager to work with you and your students to help out however you may need us! Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or wish to clarify any information.

 

Sincerely,

Kim Snider

Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators

 

 

¹ Ask your CODE representative about special membership terms and offers!

Check out this wonderful Dance Festival for the Eastern Ontario region! 

Step Into Motion 2010: Let's Celebrate Diversity, featuring Nico Archambault - Winner of CTV's So You Think You Can Dance Canada 2008! 

Gala Performances, Dancer showcases and Workshops!

www.stepintomotion.com

This is worth checking out for yourself, your drama, dance and musical theatre students.  I've just discovered this page myself and I'm now thinking of ways to use it in my classrooms to engage students with theatre in their own community as well as the larger world.

http://www.tdf.org/playbyplayonline/

This is an inspirational talk.  It is well worth a listen.  He speaks about how creativity is AS important as literacy and we should treat it with the same respect.  Enjoy and share. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

To see more:

http://www.globecampus.ca/in-the-news/article/exclusive-video-sir-ken-robinson-in-canada/

There's a wonderful e-magazine filled with new and cutting edge information about technical elements of theatre and dance.  The resource can be sent to your email on a regular basis.  It's eco-friendly and filled with more information that one could probably use.  It could even be a good research point for a senior class - depending upon the assignment.

Go to:
http://stage-directions.com/subscribe

to subscribe for their email newsletters and e-magazine or simply check out

http://stage-directions.com/

to learn more about them.

On Wednesday, February 3rd, CODE members and TDSB teachers had the rare treat of meeting and working with Professor Jonothan Neelands of the Institute of Education at the University of Warwick.

 

Professor Neelands, author of drama resources such as Structuring Drama Work and Beginning Drama, has had a long-standing impact on drama in education in Ontario, and getting to work with him in person was an amazing experience for all.

 

Neelands led participants through a series of exploratory activities based on the wordless graphic novel The Arrival by Shaun Tan, which deals with the subject of migration and its impact on families.  Participants examined pictures from the book and used them as the basis for their dramatic work.  Many of these scenes were profoundly moving to the rest of the teachers present.

 

"I found it quite inspirational," said participant Ashley Winchell. Another participant echoed this sentiment, saying "I found it amazing how the participants came together as a community in such a short time when we hardly knew each other." Neelands too spoke to the idea that drama can be used to tackle a variety of serious issues, stating that though drama is an art, he also sees it as intimately tied to the humanities.

 

View the resource Professor Neelands created for this workshop.

 

       

 

 

Teachers in the London area of Ontario have a great resource at their fingertips and a quick visit to this website can provide some other great resources to teachers across Ontario.

Horizon Solutions in London, Ontario has been offering monthly seminars in theatre tech for years.  I first heard of these from a teaching colleague and this has finally led me to check out their website. 

At www.resourcestage.ca my most excited discovery was their list of resources including a glossary of audio terms.  When you visit their site, scroll over to the right to where there is an icon of a folder and you will discover a selection of free resource materials.  The Glossary of audio terms piqued my interest and it is definitely comprehensive.  I'm sure you'll find other items there that interest you and perhaps can be useful in your Drama or Dance classroom.

 

A light supper will be provided at 5:30pm followed by the workshop and discussion.

 

CODE members - $25 

non-CODE members - $30

 

Go to the event page for more information!

 

Sponsored by CODE and the Toronto District School Board

CODE is looking for writers for a dance, drama, and critical literacy project for grades 1 to 8. Applications are due Jan. 22nd noon. Training sessions will be held in Toronto Feb. 11th 5 to 9pm and Feb. 12th 8:30am to 4:30 pm.

 

Computer skills are essential and we invite you to submit a lesson using the Ministry's 3 part lesson template. Blank_3_part_Lesson_Template[1].doc

 

For the full call sheet and application package click here:call for critical literacy writers1.doc 

Ellison Travel is launching Toronto Dramafest for October 2010.  For more information read the press release below:

This month Ellison Travel & Tours launches its inaugural Toronto Dramafest with the support of Toronto Tourism and CODE (The Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators). This festival which offers a variety of enriching, educational, drama experiences is geared to elementary and secondary students.

Although moderately successful in its first year, the concept of a drama festival in Toronto has received extensive support from drama educators across Canada and we are optimistic about its continued growth. Consequently, we are now planning for Dramafest 2010 on the following dates - October 20-24, 2010.

Our plan is to contact potential suppliers interested in taking part in our program and to receive feedback by mid January. We need information on what may be available for drama students and in particular what plays would be available and appropriate for students during the Oct 20-24 period. We will be offering programs to schools across Canada as well as to tour operators in the USA and Britain who also offer student programs. Groups will have the option of attending for 1 to 5 days. We will prepare a menu of activities available during these dates and then provide a customized tour based on their menu selections. Our needs include the following:

• Available plays and ticket costs
• Backstage tours
• Opportunities to meet the actors before or after productions
• Workshop space
• Workshops on improvisation, acting, costumes, dance, design, stage combat, etc
• A location to assemble our students for a possible pizza party that could include student performances plus 5 to 10 tables for representatives of post secondary drama school programs

We would like your participation in this exciting festival. Please respond indicating the components that you are able to provide along with the appropriate detail. We also value your input and request your suggestions towards offering a most comprehensive, educational and quality festival.

With thanks,

Ron Gilbert – B.Mus., M.Ed., A.R.C.T.

DRAMAFEST

Bus: 519-235-2470 ext 404