Jennifer Dennehy

Hoop Dance Residenc

CURRENT RESIDENCIES:



Fall 2018 /Winter 2019 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA 

St. Martin's Center and I wrote and recieved our 4th LTR grant through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. We are excited to continue our partnership. During this 65 day residency I will continue to teach the elements of dance aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden to the preschool ages children at St. Martin's Center in addition to teaching hoop dance to the school aged children in their after-school program.

October - December 2018 @ LifeWorks, Erie, PA

This residency is designed for participants of any skill level. Each week you will dive into a different element of dance via exploration activities, improvisation and even some composition exercises. These will take place on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Call 453-5072 to learn more! 

November - December 2018 @ Parkinson's Partners of NWPA

We believe that ALL people can dance and should have the opportunity to experience dance. During this FREE program participants and care partners will explore movement and music in STIMULATING, exhilarating, ENJOYABLE and creative ways. The dance educator teaching this program is Jennifer Dennehy, a PA Council on the Arts Rostered Teaching Artist, who has created an enjoyable social environment for artistic exploration through dance. Jennifer will integrate basic movements from modern, ballet, tap, folk and social dancing to engage participants’ bodies and minds. Through this new community recreational program participants will experience the JOYS and BENEFITS of dance while also addressing symptom-specific concerns related to balance, motor skill, cognition, depression and physical confidence. 

September - May 2019 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults

Twice a week from September through mid May dance classes are taught to two different groups at Erie Homes. Each group will learn 3 dances through the residency and performed for their families in May 2019. 

September - February 2019 Trinity Center, Bethesda Lutheran Services

An after-school hoop dance program in the heart of little Italy in Erie, PA. School aged inner city youth learn about the elements of dance, hoop dance techniques, hoop making and some dance composition skills. All of this while boosting self esteem and self awareness. Students will perform for friends, family and community at a culminating event in February 2019.

UPCOMING RESIDENCIES:

Spring 2019 Mckean Elementary, 2nd Grade

Summer 2019 @ City of Erie Parks & Recs Program



PAST RESIDENCIES: 

Spring 2018 @ Parkinson's Partners of NWPA

Winter/Spring 2018 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults

This years theme was "A Day at the Movies." Twice a week from January through mid May dance classes were taught to two different groups at Erie Homes. Each group learned 3 dances through the residency and performed for their families on May 14, 2018. 

Spring 2018 @ South Hills Child Development Center, Erie, PA

During this residency Kindergarten students learned the Mexican hat dance and transformed a Mexican folklore story into a creative dance, both were performed for the other school students, staff and parents during the culminating event. The preschool students incorporated their knowledge of fairtales and castles into learning about the elements of dance and were also part of the culminating performance. 

September - December 2017 @ LifeWorks, Erie, PA

This residency is designed for participants of any skill level. Each week you will dive into a different element of dance via exploration activities, improvisation and even some composition exercises. These will take place on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Call 453-5072 to learn more! 

Fall 2017 /Winter 2018 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA 

St. Martin's Center and I wrote and recieved our 3rd LTR grant through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. We are excited to continue our partnership. During this 65 day residency I will continue to teach the elements of dance aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden to the preschool ages children at St. Martin's Center in addition to teaching hoop dance to the school aged children in their after-school program.

Spring 2017 @ Sarah Reed Children's Center, Erie, PA

Creative Hoop Dance residency with K through 12students at their Hamilton Campus. Students will learnthe BrainDance, the Elements of Dance, HoopTechniques, and learn how to make hoops and take theircreation home. Students will participate in a culminatingevent where they will perform for their familes, friendsand community.

Januray - June 2017 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults

Dafmark Dance Theater has an established "Partners inDance" program with EHCA through which I will beteaching bi-weekly dance/movement/hoop dance classesto people with disabilities.  They will performed midJune for their familes, friends and community.



Fall 2016/ Winter 2017 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

St. Martin's Center and I wrote and recieved an LTR grantthrough the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Weareexcited to continue our partnership. During this 65dayresidency I will continue to teach the elements ofdancealigned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden to the preschool ages children at St.Martin's Center in addition to teaching hoop dance to theschool aged children in their after-school program.

Summer 2016 @ Sarah Reed Childrens Center, Erie, PA

Creative Hoop Dance residency with K through 12 students at their Hamilton Campus. Students will learn the BrainDance, the Elements of Dance, Hoop Techniques, and learn how to make hoops and take their creation home. Students performed on August 18th for their familes, friends and community

March - June @ Erie Homes for Children and Adults, Erie, PA

Dafmark Dance Theater has an established "Partners in Dance" program with EHCA through which I will be teaching bi-weekly dance/movement/hoop dance classes to people with disabilities.  They will perform June 9th for their familes, friends and community.

March 14 -17, 2016 @ South Hills Child Development Center

          Creative Dance residency with peschool and K students.             Kids will learn the elements of dance, the brain dance                 and we will be incorporating some Irish poetry and                     picture books to create dances that tell the story and                    speak to the holiday, St. Patrick's Day.

Fall 2015 /Winter 2016 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

St. Martin's Center and I wrote and recieved an LTR grant through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. We are excited to continue our partnership. During this 65 day residency I will continue to teach the elements of dance aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden to the preschool ages children at St. Martin's Center in addition to teaching hoop dance to the school aged children in their after-school program.

Summer 2015 @ South Hills Child Development Center, Erie, PA

 Mini hoop dance residency with students going into 1st - 6th grades. This residency incorporated the elements of dance, hoop techniques and a subject that the children have been learning about all summer at South Hills, Malala who she is and what she represents.

Fall 2014 /Winter 2015 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

Erie Arts & Culture teamed with PNC to bring the Grow Up Great project to Erie. The goals of this projects are to increase early learners access to arts and cultural activities and encourage the use of arts and culture in early learning classrooms as tools for building cognitive and social skills.

Through this project I will teach the elements of dance through 30 creative movement classes with the preschool ages children at St. Martin's Center. This program will not only teach children dance/movement but will also aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden.

Fall/Winter/Spring 2015 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults(EHCA), Erie, PA

Dafmark Dance Theater has an established "Partners in Dance" program with EHCA through which I will be teaching bi-weekly dance/movement/hoop dance classes to people with disabilities.  They will perform in early May 2015.

Summer 2014 @ South Hills Child Development Center, Erie, PA

 Mini hoop dance residency with students going into 1st - 6th grades. This residency incorporated the elements of dance, hoop techniques with some topics the children have been learning about all summer at South Hills, including, growing beans, fish and identifying birds.

Spring 2014 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults(EHCA), Erie, PA

Dafmark Dance Theater has an established "Partners in Dance" program with EHCA through which I taught bi-weekly dance/movement/hoop dance classes to people with disabilities. They performed Tuesday, June 10th.

Winter/Spring 2014 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

ArtsErie is piloting a new project, PNC Grow Up Great with Arts & Culture in Erie. This projects goals are to increase early learners access to arts and cultural activities and encourage the use of arts and culture in early learning classrooms as tools for building cognitive and social skills.

Through this project I taught dance/movement for 20 days to all the preschool ages children at St. Martin's Center. This program not only taught children dance/movement but was also aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden.

(Photo @ St. Martin Center)

Winter/Spring 2014 @ St. Benedict Center, Erie, PA

ArtsErie is piloting a new project, PNC Grow Up Great with Arts & Culture in Erie. This projects goals are to increase early learners access to arts and cultural activities and encourage the use of arts and culture in early learning classrooms as tools for building cognitive and social skills.

Through this project I taught dance/movement for 20 days to all the preschool ages children at St. Benedict's Center. This program not only taught children dance/movement but was also aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden. 

Fall 2013 @ Union City Elementary, Union City, PA (September - November 2013)

It was a pleasure collabortating with Sandi George to work with her 3rd grade classroom Union City Elementary School. We taught multiplication using the movement art form of hoop dancing. Not only did the students learn hoop and dance techniques but they simultaneously learn multiplication too!!

Watch the summary video of this Residency in the link below.

Residency Update: 10/27/2013

During this residency these 3rd graders have been introduced to multiplication and word problems through movement with hoops. They have begun to understand multi-step word problems through hooping and have had a number of opportunities to write reflections on their personal experiences.  They have hand made their own hoops, explored hoop techniques, creative movement, discussed how to create a dance using space, levels, and music. 

We have one week remaining in this residency and it has been a wonderful experience. Mrs. George has been a pleasure to work with and is a talented teacher from whom I have learned a great deal. This week the students will finish choreographing their own dances inspired by multi-step word problems that they created and wrote last week. The students will perform their dances on Friday, November 1st for the whole 3rd grade and parents who are able to attend.



Spring/Summer 2013 @ SafeNet, Erie, PA

The focus of this residency is to help clients improve self-esteem and body image, develop effective communication skills and relationships, expand their movement vocabulary, gain insight into patterns of behavior, as well as create new options for coping with problems.

January 2013 @ First District Elementary School, Meadville, PA (3rd Grade)

The focus of this residency was to teach the constellation myths through research, writing, and creating hoop dances. Not only did this residency teach about the subject matter and the art form but it was a great beginning to the students exploration of abstract thought. (Video summary available below)

December 2012 @ First District Elementary School, Meadville, PA (3rd Grade)

This residency focused on teaching about the solar system through the movement art form of hoop dance and through the construction and design hoop making. Literature, Science, Math, and Dance are some of the subject areas that were touched upon during this residency. (Video summary below)

Fall 2012 @ Roosevelt Middle School, Erie, PA

In collaboration with the gym teachers, the focus was on teaching the 6th, 7th and 8th graders about fun alternative ways to improve their fitness level and learning about ways in which they can utilize the hoop to target specific muscle groups.

August - December 2016 @ Erie Homes for Children & Adults

Dafmark Dance Theater has an established "Partners in Dance" program with EHCA through which I will be teaching bi-weekly dance/movement/hoop dance classes to people with disabilities.  They will perform December 12th for their familes, friends and community.

Fall 2016 /Winter 2017 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

Fall 2016 /Winter 2017 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

St. Martin's Center and I wrote and recieved an LTR grant through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. We are excited to continue our partnership. During this 65 day residency I will continue to teach the elements of dance aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Pre-Kintergarden to the preschool ages children at St. Martin's Center in addition to teaching hoop dance to the school aged children in their after-school program.

Fall 2016 /Winter 2017 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

Dafmark Dance Theater has an established "Partners in Dance" program with EHCA through which I will be teaching bi-weekly dance/movement/hoop dance classes to people with disabilities.  They will perform December 12th for their familes, friends and community.

September - December 2017 @ LifeWorks, Erie, PA

This residency is designed for students of any skill level . Each week you will dive into a different element of dance via exploration activities, improvisation and even some composition exercises. These will take place on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Call 453-5072 to learn more! 

Fall 2017 /Winter 2018 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA

September - December 2017 @ LifeWorks, Erie, PA

This residency is designed for students of any skill level . Each week you will dive into a different element of dance via exploration activities, improvisation and even some composition exercises. These will take place on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. Call 453-5072 to learn more! 

September - December 2017 @ LifeWorks, Erie, PA

Winter/Spring 2018 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults

Spring 2018 @ South Hills Child Development Center, Erie, PA

Winter/Spring 2018 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults

Spring 2018 @ South Hills Child Development Center, Erie, PA

Winter/Spring 2018 @ Erie Homes For Children & Adults

September - December 2017 @ LifeWorks, Erie, PA

Fall 2017 /Winter 2018 @ St. Martin's Center, Erie, PA 

Spring 2019 Mckean Elementary, 2nd Grade

Interested in an Artist Residency with Jennifer?!?

If you are a school or non-profit organization who is interested in bringing creative dance/movement or creative hoop dance to those you serve please call Jennifer (814)449-8327 to dicuss the details and your vision for this collaboration. 

Currently looking for schools to apply for grants with me to bring an Arts Infused Residency to your school. If interested please contact me at hoopsbydennehy@gmail.com.

***Residences are available for durations of 10 days, 20 days, 30 days, 60 days. Each residency is customized to suite each school, teacher, and students needs***



EDUCATION & TRAINING:

National Dance Education Organizations Conference, October 2018 @ San Diego, CA

TimeSlips Training, 2018 

Dance for Connection, May 2018 @ Boston, MA

National Dance Education Organizations Conference, November 2017 @ San Antonio, TX

National Dance Education Organization Conference, October 2016 @ Arlington, VA

Luna Dance Institute, Summer Institute 2014 @ Oakland, CA

Arts in Action Graduation Class @ Edinboro University (2012)

Art In Action Learning Lab @ Allegheny College through Arts Erie (2012 & 2013)

Midlife Fitness for Women, AFAA (2012)

AFAA Group Fitness Certification (2011)

B.A. in Psychology from Mercyhurst College (2006)

30+ years of dance training (1987 - Present)

What is a Teaching Artist?

The Association of Teaching Artists says, A Teaching Artist is a professional visual, performing, or literary artist who works in schools and in the community. The Teaching Artist may perform for the students and teachers, may work in long term or short-term residencies in classrooms or in a community setting, or may lead in program development through involvement in curricular planning and residencies with school partners. The Teaching Artist is an educator who integrates the creative process into the classroom and the community.

Nationally recognized actor, teaching artist and author Eric Booth has developed the following definition of the teaching artist: “A teaching artist (artist –educator) is a practicing professional artist with the complementary skills and sensibilities of an educator, who engages people in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts.”

Karen Erickson notes three areas where successful teaching artists demonstrate mastery.

1) Be an accomplished artist in their field

2) Provide expertise in teaching that includes organizational abilities, people management, knowledge of organizational systems, ability to teach, and knowledge about current trends in the organizational system into which they have been hired.

3) Be able to operate with business acumen.



ROLE OF THE TEACHING ARTIST

According to the Association of Teaching Artists' the role of the teaching artist is an integral part of the overarching arts education constellation, which includes: 

--- Short and long-term school and after-school residencies

--- Arts experiences, including in-school performances by professional artists, as well as field trips to studios, galleries, museums, and performances.

--- Integrating the arts throughout the curriculum as a way of engaging all types of intelligence's in the learning process

--- Arts education standards backed up by ongoing curriculum-based arts instruction in K-12 grades.

--- Discipline-specific learning in the arts: visual art, dance, theater, music, poetry

--- Higher education and on-going development for the professional artist, as well as the professional artist who is also a teaching artist

--- Lifelong learning in the arts through community arts events, classes and workshops