Dr. Paulette Cote

School of Dance

Hong Kong Academy of Performance Art

HONG KONG CHINA

Paulette Cote is the Head of the Academic Studies and Coordinator of the MFA in Dance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She obtained her interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, linking dance, motor learning, cognitive psychology, and music. She has taught dance at all levels of education and in teacher preparation programs, and presented keynote/invited papers and conducted dance workshops in Canada, the US, and several Asian countries. Her research and teaching interests include motor learning and dance teaching and learning, bilateral transfer, creative and critical thinking, and rhythm training for dancers. Dr. Cote has published several scholarly and professional articles, two books, and co-authored the text Teaching dance skills: A motor learning and development approach. She was the recipient of the 2006 National Dance Association (NDA-USA) Scholar/Artist award.

Workshop

As an art form and a physical activity, dance can play a key role in the lives of individuals across the lifespan. Through age-appropriate content, dance and creative movement offer significant opportunities to experience holistic education, and through student-centered teaching approaches, it can promote lifelong learning. In this workshop, participants will be invited to actively engage in a sample lesson plan which covers the three key strands of dance education: perform, create, and appreciate dance and creative movement.  The workshop will provide a basic framework for teaching dance and creative movement to a wide population. The fundamental movements used in the workshop demonstrate that all participants can achieve success, regardless of skill level and background. Key concepts of dance content and teaching methodology will be presented and participants will experiment with their own critical and creative thinking potential through artistic and aesthetic movements developed in individual, partner, and small group learning activities. The concepts of holistic education and lifelong learning clearly align this workshop with the health component included in the theme of the Conference. Percussion and recorded music will be used, and a handout will be distributed.