“The Art of Storytelling through Dance”
Pushpanjali Dance Company uses storytelling techniques from the ancient and traditional classical dance form Bharatanatyam where intricate hand gestures, beautiful facial expressions and graceful dance movements bring stories to life.
Storytelling is a popular performing art in India. Each region has developed its own style and tradition of story telling. Indian fables, mythology, folk tales and epics provide an incredible source of entertainment through children’s stories.
Storytelling through expressive dance is a stylised art form where the head, eyes, limbs, hand gestures and different movements are used to narrate stories or to describe various objects, whether they are elements of nature, animals, emotions or inanimate objects. Children remember stories and sequences of movement better if they are combined with dance, music and storytelling and they are more confident and uninhibited when encouraged and involved in these sessions
With an extensive vocabulary of beautiful hand gestures, facial expressions and intricate graceful dance movements, this classical style brings to life stories of Indian fables, mythology, folk tales and epics.
Storytelling benefits children and contributes to their development by:
•Promoting interest and curiosity about stories from other cultures
•Improving reading skills and developing the habit of reading
•Promoting early literacy
•Enhancing creativity and motivation
•Developing talents
•Developing children’s enjoyment of dance, expression of ideas and feelings through movement
•Helping children go on an emotional journey through interesting stories
•Helping children learn about some traditional Indian dances within a culturally diverse society.
•Enhancing their ability to identify and distinguish different sounds
•Improving concentration, movement vocabulary, verbal and non –verbal communication skills, expression and enjoyment
We also offer INSET training in the ‘Art of Storytelling’
These storytelling techniques are an invaluable teaching tool for teachers, especially for those working with early years as it would help them inspire and develop children’s non verbal communication skills. The training sessions are designed to suit teachers working with all age groups including :
-Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
-Nurseries
-Reception
-Sure Start Children’s Centres
-Playgroups
Through this training teachers working with early years and pre-school children will learn techniques such as:
-Hand gestures showing various objects and elements of nature
-Facial expressions demonstrating different emotions
-Dance steps depicting various characters and animals in the stories.
These skills will help teachers enhance their confidence in making story time more enjoyable whilst improving childrens’ literacy skills.
The course is suitable for all teachers and teaching assistants.
www.pushpanjalidance.co.uk