Originally published September 2010
By Martha Beach
Dance is a language. It’s a way of communicating that requires no speaking at all. It’s beneficial to all students, simple to teach, and easy to incorporate into everyday classroom activities. Yet, because of a lack of training and therefore a lack of confidence, teachers across Canada can be reluctant to teach dance in the classroom.
“Dance provides students with another language to express their thoughts and feelings,” says Christine Jackson, Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) Program Coordinator for the Arts. For those who can’t communicate very well in traditional ways—through written tests, essays, and exercises—dance is one way for them to share feelings.
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.
