Renowned Mime, Dancer in Residency at Shore
On May 6, the newly dedicated Trustey Family Theatre hosted a dance celebration by Shore's fourth graders, the culmination of their week-long residency with internationally renowned mime, dancer, and choreographer Karen Montanaro. The experience marked the third year theater arts instructor Sarah Carlin has invited Montanaro to present her unique workshop for fourth graders.
Montanaro is recognized as the innovator of "mimedance," an art form that fuses the physical storytelling of mime with the classical movement of ballet. She is currently presenting her one-woman show internationally, as well as offering workshops and master classes at schools around the country.
Back
Montanaro is recognized as the innovator of "mimedance," an art form that fuses the physical storytelling of mime with the classical movement of ballet. She is currently presenting her one-woman show internationally, as well as offering workshops and master classes at schools around the country.
At Shore, Montanaro worked with each 4th grade class in 45-minute sessions throughout the week, inspiring students with international dance forms and teaching them how movement can express emotions and culture. Said Carlin, "Karen has a unique ability to get students moving with incredible positive energy. It doesn't matter whether they've had previous dance experience or are complete novices - Karen finds a way to make dance meaningful and fun for all of them."
In the performance for parents and students at the Friday morning all-school House Meeting, each class presented exuberant dances from Greek, African, and Irish traditions, and the entire fourth grade took the stage for the finale, based on a Broadway musical number.
"These students have been amazing," said Montanaro after the event. "I've worked with kids at many schools who really struggle to get past negative energy of one kind or another and find themselves in the dancing. The Shore students were the oppposite. For the first time, I've found only positive energy. These kids were really ready to work; they did twice as much as I usually get through in one of my workshops. It all comes from that positive energy," Montanaro said.
Said fourth grade teacher and Lower School Dean of Students Sean Melia, "It was remarkable to see my students take the stage during the classes and, without talking, just start moving. Karen hardly had to say a word - it was all about the physical experience and the energy."
One parent admitted, "My son has just been so excited about this class all week. From never being involved in dance before, to showing us every night what he learned with Karen that day - it's been a transformation."
Montanaro explained her mission as helping to ensure that movement, especially for children, never becomes a lost art. "Kids are such natural movers, but in this technological age, I feel that movement is becoming a lost resource. Kids are losing the kinetic connection to themselves, and I am passionate about going into schools and doing things that bring energy back into their bodies."
It's a rewarding endeavor, she said. "You can see immediately a light go on behind their eyes as they realize, 'I'm in my territory now.' That's what keeps me going: seeing that instant response to not only energized movement but also to discipline. Something wonderful happens when the energy, the speed, and the focus of discipline come together - it's like a chemical reaction. Right when they first come into my class, I tell children the things that are most important to me are energy and focus, working together and doing your best. Nothing else matters."
"I do believe it helps kids in the long run," Montanaro said. "Cultivating these high-quality inner experiences will yield outer results. I feel like what I do is nurture that inner life so that it can show in life, and so that children, rather than reaching for the phone or tablet when they're bored, will have the ability to create something of their own from the energy that's within and all around them."
"These students have been amazing," said Montanaro after the event. "I've worked with kids at many schools who really struggle to get past negative energy of one kind or another and find themselves in the dancing. The Shore students were the oppposite. For the first time, I've found only positive energy. These kids were really ready to work; they did twice as much as I usually get through in one of my workshops. It all comes from that positive energy," Montanaro said.
Said fourth grade teacher and Lower School Dean of Students Sean Melia, "It was remarkable to see my students take the stage during the classes and, without talking, just start moving. Karen hardly had to say a word - it was all about the physical experience and the energy."
One parent admitted, "My son has just been so excited about this class all week. From never being involved in dance before, to showing us every night what he learned with Karen that day - it's been a transformation."
Montanaro explained her mission as helping to ensure that movement, especially for children, never becomes a lost art. "Kids are such natural movers, but in this technological age, I feel that movement is becoming a lost resource. Kids are losing the kinetic connection to themselves, and I am passionate about going into schools and doing things that bring energy back into their bodies."
It's a rewarding endeavor, she said. "You can see immediately a light go on behind their eyes as they realize, 'I'm in my territory now.' That's what keeps me going: seeing that instant response to not only energized movement but also to discipline. Something wonderful happens when the energy, the speed, and the focus of discipline come together - it's like a chemical reaction. Right when they first come into my class, I tell children the things that are most important to me are energy and focus, working together and doing your best. Nothing else matters."
"I do believe it helps kids in the long run," Montanaro said. "Cultivating these high-quality inner experiences will yield outer results. I feel like what I do is nurture that inner life so that it can show in life, and so that children, rather than reaching for the phone or tablet when they're bored, will have the ability to create something of their own from the energy that's within and all around them."
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.