Now that dance is part of the arts curriculum in the education system, educators are looking for innovative solutions to meet the challenges of teaching dance subjects. EXPRESS DANCE is an approach to teaching dance to non-dancers and the workshops are specifically designed to meet provincial curriculum expectations.

Karen and Allen Kaeja have developed the EXPRESS DANCE approach through 15 years of experience in teaching dance and a recognized need to bring more dance into public schools. Karen, Allen and the dancers of their Company, Kaeja d’Dance, have taught over 15,000 students.

The Kaejas describe their motivation for designing EXPRESS DANCE:
"Dance is human gesture. This principal mode of communication is essential to life and the ability to connect. The purpose of EXPRESS DANCE is to help students understand their physical potential and how that potential can be used as a means of self-expression."

EXPRESS DANCE classes provide students with the experience of creating movement within a structured and cooperative environment. The leader’s role is to act as facilitator within this structure and motivate students to achieve success. The dance material produced comes from the creative work of the students, who are not required to have previous dance training. This is one of the reasons why learners of all abilities have successfully participated in EXPRESS DANCE classes.

Allen and Karen also offer teacher’s workshops in the EXPRESS DANCE approach for schools, school boards and at arts education conferences. Workshop options range from two hours to three days.

The Toronto District School Board became a partner of Kaeja d’Dance in 2003, offering both teacher and student workshops in its schools.

The Teachers

All EXPRESS DANCE teachers have been selected from either Kaeja d'Dance’s main Company (established in 1991) or Kd’D2. Every dancer has a minimum of 5 years professional dance experience, have gone through intensive EXPRESS DANCE teacher training with Karen and Allen Kaeja and are experienced in teaching EXPRESS DANCE workshops in public schools across Ontario.

Each EXPRESS DANCE workshop is taught by a team of two dancers. Kaeja d'Dance believes in presenting strong role models with different personalities and teaching styles, working together towards a common goal. Team-teaching accentuates the fundamental goals of EXPRESS DANCE: partnership, co-operation and freedom of expression.

Kd’D2 is a Kaeja d’Dance project of emerging professional dancers that was established in 2001. Mentored by Karen and Allen Kaeja, the Kd’D2 initiative provides experience for those dancers early in their careers to become well-rounded performers and teachers of EXPRESS DANCE.

If you are interested in booking workshops for your school or for teachers in your board, or would like additional information about EXPRESS DANCE, please contact Education and Outreach Liaison Angela Marsh by phone, 416-516-6030, or e-mail education@kaeja.org.

Education
Karen and Allen's Approach to Dance
Contact Dance
Improvisation
The EXPRESS DANCE Resource Book
Order the EXPRESS DANCE Resource Book [Downloadable order form]
Testimonials on EXPRESS DANCE with Students
Testimonials on EXPRESS DANCE Workshops for Teachers