Joanna Pang Atkins – Teaching Artist
Assembly
Do you like to travel? Do you want to visit other countries? History, geography, social studies, music, dance and traditional attire are all incorporated into my Multi-Cultural Folk Dance Assembly. Experience Japan, Italy, Kenya! See a performance of a classical Japanese fan dance and try some fan movements. See all the parts of a kimono, even try one on. Learn to count in Japanese while doing arm exercises which will prepare everyone for Taiko drumming. Next we might travel to Italy and learn an Italian folk dance, Cicerenella. What does that mean, Cicerenella? What are they singing about? Does anyone play hopscotch? There is a dance step that is just like hopscotch. Let's visit Kenya in Africa. See hand carved wooden spears, fabric and jewelry. The Masai tribe were lion hunters. Now you can learn their famous lion dance that includes a jumping competition. Bring it home, and celebrate America with rock and roll. Everyone learns rock dancing created from everyday activities and sports movements such as basketball, boxing, swimming, skating, typing and more.
In the course of this assembly, the students benefit from a general exposure to the various cultures from around the world. They experience both the process of learning by participation and the thrill of performance.
Dances might include: Chinese Ribbon Dance, African Lion Dance, Russian Trepak, Highland Fling, Japanese Fan Dance, Japanese Taiko Drumming, Italian Folk Dance, Australian Aboriginal Dance, Mexican Clap Dance, Merengue and others.
New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards: 1.1,1.2, 2.5, 6.2, 7.1
Experience
In 2014, Joanna Pang Atkins was honored as Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year by Morris Arts of New Jersey. Joanna has been a lifelong performer, as an actress and dancer, on television, in movies, musical theater as well as the ballet. She has toured the world in dance companies and experienced firsthand the multitude of dance and music cultures in many countries. Her professional teaching background is in dance, ranging from ballet to jazz to folk. She teaches all ages, from kindergarten through adult. Her special rapport with children has had her teaching them on TV and as far afield as California studios, a school in Budapest, and right at home in New Jersey. Joanna’s biography has been published in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who of American Women.
Contact
For more information, resume and references please contact:
Joanna Pang Atkins
973-325-2045 phone Email: PangAtkins@aol.com
973-325-9668 fax www.JoannaPangAtkins.com
