History
Chicago Dance Institute embodies a unique teaching methodology
developed over 30 years ago by Jacques d'Amboise, founder of National
Dance Institute in New York City. All classes are guided by a head
teacher, assistant teacher and live musician.
CDI offers two programs to schools we partner
with targeting fourth grade. We have 2-week
residencies where we have each 4th grade class
for 45 minutes, and a 32-week program where
we see each 4th grade class for 45 minutes
once a week for the full year. All classes take
place during the school day to emphasize our
belief that the arts should be a part of each
child's education with equal importance to
other subjects. Both the 2-week residency and
full-year program culminates in a performance.
All of our teaching artists are active in the dance community
and provide innovative methods of teaching in their various
genres exposing children to a wide variety of cultures,
movements, and styles. The binding of these classes
is provided by some of the most talented composers in
piano, percussion, and guitar setting the soundtrack
and providing the heartbeat to every class we teach.
We seek to create parallel development between
the physical self and mental self as a
young aspiring artist. Our program enhances
skills of musicality, creative movement and expression,
and allows the students to have a hand in the
way they are learning by utilizing all the ways
in which we learn.
A large body of scientific research has determined that Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools significantly improves students':
- Social-emotional skills
- Attitudes about self and others
- Social interactions
SEL is a process of developing fundamental skills for life effectiveness.
These skills include recognizing and managing our emotions,
developing caring and concern for others, establishing positive
relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situations constructively and ethically. They are
the skills that allow children to calm themselves when angry, make friends, resolve conflicts respectfully, and make ethical and safe choices.
Source: Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning
