School Incursions Program

LVDP Dance Incursions

What are dance incursions?

Dance incursions are a fantastic way to expose students to new ways of learning through movement.

Through teamwork, collaboration and imagination, students use dance to improve their health, fitness and understanding of the capacity of their bodies. Dance incursions are also an ideal way to bring together the school community, with students being able to perform what they’ve learnt on stage in front of their families!

How are these sessions structured?

Sessions always start with a warm-up, which is an important part of safe dance practice to activate the students’ muscles and focus their minds on the session ahead. Once warm, facilitators take students through the ‘main activity’; which depending on the type of incursion booked will involve dance technique exercises, choreography or movement concepts related to the specific incursion theme.

The majority of the session is dedicated to this creative process to focus on developing students skills in line with the objectives of the incursion. Before finishing, students are often given the opportunity to perform their choreography or exercises to their peers where feedback can be discussed to identify strengths and potential areas for improvement.

Please allow sessions to go for 45-60 minutes each (depending on the size of the group).

What do we need from you?

• An open space (school hall, multi-purpose or Performing Arts room are ideal)
• Speakers or TV (something to connect a laptop to play music)
• Students to have comfortable shoes and clothing to move around freely

LVDP offers three types of dance incursions:

Dance as an Experience

This incursion is about experiential dance / movement.

The foundations for our ‘Dance as an Experience’ incursions focus on students learning through dance. By using dance as the medium of instruction, students explore real-world concepts as they move, create and express themselves in relation to their reality. (Enquire for more information on themes)

Dance as a Performance

This incursion is about dance choreography and how to perform to an audience.

The foundations for our ‘Dance as a Performance’ incursions focus on students learning how to dance effectively when performing for an audience. By working with their peers to embody a sequence of movements, students develop their capacity to perform on stage with confidence and expression.

These incursions are designed for students to learn a fun piece of choreography that can then be performed to the school community! It’s ideally suited for schools to utilise this incursion as a performance at assemblies, events, Wakakirri competitions or EOY concerts.

Dance as a Discipline

This incursion is about dance technique.

The foundations for our ‘Dance as a Discipline’ incursions focus on students learning about the discipline of dance. As students practice the technique of a dance style, they gain an understanding of both the technical movements involved in dance styles, as well as what goes into the fundamentals of safe dance practice.

Styles

• Ballet
• Contemporary
• Jazz
• Hip Hop
• Musical Theatre
• Brain, Body & Breath
• Dancing Strong

Levels

What level of difficulty do your students need?

• Beginner (no experience)
• Intermediate (1-2 years experience)
• Advanced (3-5 years experience)
• Mixed (varied levels of experience)

Who we are

La Vérité Dance Projects is a collaborative creative arts company which was founded by Stephanie Georges in 2015. LVDP teaches the technique and discipline of dance, whilst creating a platform for self-discovery and development. Our name, La Vérité, is derived from the French word meaning ‘the truth’. We teach, perform and connect through dance because we recognise its potential to explore and comprehend the truth about ourselves. Ultimately, we want to be good to dance and to do good with dance, because when nurtured correctly, it can do incredible things.

LVDP’s Objectives:

• To increase students’ social development by connecting them to their community through dance workshops.
• To offer workshops that allow students to learn about dance, to dance, and through dance as a process of meaning making.
• To develop students’ balance, coordination, strength, stamina and grace through dance technique classes.
• To offer students a platform to develop their creative expression and self-discovery through experiential dance classes.

Program Facilitator

LVDPs dance incursions are led by Nicole Hrissis; a dancer and qualified primary-school teacher. Nicole received her Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) from Monash University, where her honours research paper focused on, ‘In what ways do movement-based practices increase student engagement?’

Nicole’s recent work has included the role of Performing Arts Specialist at a primary school in Melbourne’s South-East. She has developed a wealth of experience in facilitating an engaging and rigorous dance program, where students cover the Victorian Curriculum whilst exploring creative ideas.

By combining our training and experience in education, dance and creative arts therapy, LVDPs dance incursions draw on movement concepts that are age-appropriate for young children, whilst also promoting greater awareness and wellbeing.

All facilitators have a valid Working With Children Check, First Aid & CPR training.