The Success of the Pamela Humphreys Program is due largely to the fact that it has evolved in a way that keeps up with the students demands to learn current trends in dance in line with popular music i.e. Hip Hop, Salsa, Street Latin etc. Where do teenage girls and boys learn the social skills required to behave appropriately in each other’s company? The Pamela Humphreys Dance Program addresses these issues in a relaxed and positive way whilst teaching a real “life skill”.
Debbie-Anne Humphreys
Mobile: 0401 935 194
Melanie Humphreys
Mobile: 0407 823 700
The Humphreys Dance Schools Program
Pre-Primary to Year 12 The Humphreys Dance Schools Program brings over 40 years experience in teaching Primary and Secondary students the joy of dance. Our program focuses on music, rhythm, social interaction, confidence and fun. The program is currently taught to children from Pre-Primary to year 12 at over 100 schools in Western Australia, with many happy to provide a reference if required..
The Success of the Pamela Humphreys Program is due largely to the fact that it has evolved in a way that keeps up with the students demands to learn current trends in dance in line with popular music i.e. Hip Hop, Salsa, Street Latin etc. Where do teenage girls and boys learn the social skills required to behave appropriately in each other’s company? The Humphreys Dance Schools Program addresses these issues in a relaxed and positive way whilst teaching a real “life skill”.
O’Connor Primary School students will now be stars on the dance floor after lessons with Humphreys Dance.
Kindergarten to Year 3 students will be dancing up a storm at the school this week, practising various dance styles during lessons with the popular dance group, established in 1967.
OPS deputy principal Allison Hunter said the dance company visited the school every two years and the visits were eagerly awaited by students. She said dance was an important part of building a well-rounded education.
“Dance builds social skills, balance, co-ordination and focus in this area improves academic skills such as handwriting, and it is lots of fun,” she said.
“Todd and Debbie Anne are excellent professional instructors and are very skilled at their craft, it has been a pleasure to have them at the school.”
Dance lessons will continue next week, with Year 4 to 6 students given the chance to improve their moves.
The lessons will culminate in a social event at the school for students to show their skills and dance floor moves to their parents and peers.
Tegan Guthrie – Kalgoorlie Miner on 7th September 2016
The Pamela Humphreys Dance Program is underpinned by the development of social skills and capabilities as students participate in individual, partner, whole-class, and whole-school dance, engage in culturally diverse forms of dance and music, and learn to interact and work with others in engaging, creating, and responding to dance. This document describes how the program can be used as a tool to report to parents, how we align with the Australian Curriculum
Reporting to Parents:
The Pamela Humphreys Dance Program understands the necessity for educative programs to be curriculum-aligned with the opportunity to report on knowledge and skills. The Pamela Humphreys Dance Program is completely aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Dance syllabus. Our learning assessment criteria provides a checklist of knowledge and skills accompanied by relevant content descriptors. The program can also be tailored to integrate cross-curricular content. Copies of the Learning Assessment Criteria are available for school administrators to view at their pleasure. The program can also provide Professional Learning to school administrators and staff in the use of the Learning Assessment Criteria to satisfy the Dance Curriculum.
Our Program is Cross-Curricular:
The Pamela Humphreys Dance Program can be tailored to align with the Australian Curriculum according to school needs:
Health and Physical Education – physical activity to stimulate cognitive development, social practices to align with social-emotional development
History – genres from the past and the present
Geography – genres from around the world
Civics and Citizenship – our program promotes multiculturalism and diversity
Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia – specific dances to focus on Asian cultures
General Capabilities – our program promotes a range of General Capabilities, including:
Literacy – students use and modify language in the dance context to communicate and participate effectively and confidently. They learn to use and understand kinetic language as they create, design and evaluate their own dancing. Students use and understand dance-specific terminology to comprehend dance, express thoughts and emotions, and interact with others.
Numeracy – Students understand the role of mathematics in different contexts as they use spatial reasoning to problem solve space, understanding timing through rhythm, and show positions using amounts of turn, area, and movement. Mathematical concepts are used frequently as students choreograph and perform dance.
Critical and Creative Thinking – Critical and Creative thinking is used in dance when students make and respond using imagination and innovation. They consider feedback both individually and collectively in learning and performing contexts.
Personal and Social Capability – this capability is developed as students work individually and collaboratively to make and respond to dance. Students are encouraged to apply their own personalities and emotions to technically-specific dance. They empathise with others’ emotions and needs, and develop their social skills in a range of situations.
Ethical Understanding – Students are encouraged to reflect on how their behaviours have an effect on others through developing dance etiquette in asking and responding to partner dancing. They are encouraged to consider how their feelings impact their actions, and how their actions impact on their partner.
Intercultural Understanding – this capability is developed as students grow an appreciation for culturally diverse forms of dance. Students engage with the different movements and music from diverse cultures to promote mutual respect. The program promotes multiculturalism and diversity in all facets.
Protective Behaviours:
Protective Behaviours are supported through the program as students understand appropriate forms and contexts for physical contact. Dance holds are modelled by instructors, with hand positions carefully demonstrated and explained. The aim is to show students that certain physical contact is acceptable according to the educative and artistic context.
References
Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority (2019). Western Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/teaching/curriculum-browser
Debbie-Anna Humphreys
Co-Principal
Mobile: 0401935194
Melanie Humphreys
Co-Principal
Mobile: 0407 823 700
