Children’s minds and bodies hunger for natural frameworks. Exploring the many ways the body moves through space in response to various rhythms and music generates a whole “alphabet of movement”. Then, using that “alphabet” to create movement sequences (“words” and “phrases”) expands a child’s vocabulary of movement in a natural progression. A big key is how it feels inside, not how it looks.
It happens in songs like “Planet Wonderland”, or in “Dancing Body Rhythms”.
A simple definition of Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence is “the ability to use one’s body skillfully for expressive or goal-directed purposes”. (Howard Gardner, Multiple Intelligences)
Body Intelligence is a key to mental versatility. Dexterity of the hands matches dexterity of the brain. Dance Education in THTF expands a young child’s movement vocabulary by practicing how the body naturally moves to a variety of rhythms and frequencies, rather than classic or popular styles of movement. Expanding movement vocabulary promotes neural-pathway versatility.
A common misconception in the popular idea of “child-led learning” is that the educators don’t actively guide the process. Not so. “Taking the lead” from children requires keen observation – knowing when to ‘nudge’ the process, knowing when to step back. It’s messy and chaotic at times. Knowing when to amplify or refine the process is everything. That’s when a kind of natural brilliance takes the lead.
When a group of children are asked to share their movement ideas inside a fun dance song, the movements are often copycat versions of culturally popular themes they’ve seen on the Internet. Imitation is inevitable. But expanding movement vocabulary in a wholesome direction is not inevitable. Imitation is natural. But exposing young minds and bodies to a kaleidoscope of meaningful options takes a special kind of work and patience.
Generating meaningful movement vocabulary is key to promoting body intelligence. Finding ways to prompt ideas without inhibiting a child’s creative development is so important.
In Talking Hands Talking Feet performing arts programs, there is an atmosphere of no judgment or competition. Movement and dance belong with natural human theater, not cultural personality ‘theater’. It’s about generating a meaningful array of opportunities without shutting down a child’s instinctive exploration and curiosity.
Talking Hands Talking Feet is a future facing organization. Its pathfinding methodology is being adopted by parents and educators worldwide. Why? Because it works.
~paz
