CBYE - Education

Dancing with Books – Literacy Through the Arts

Dancing with Books was created by the CBYE in January 2007.  The program is designed to use dance and music as interactive learning techniques to enhance literacy skills in elementary school children from Kindergarten to Grade 3.  Program is in line with the Ontario Arts Curriculum for each grade.

The program consists of a series of workshops that are presented to students from selected inner city schools from the Hamilton- Wentworth District School Board.  Dancing with Books is centred on the book “The Song within My Heart” by Canadian author, David Bouchard.  This book promotes inter-cultural communication with the Native culture.   As part of the program, each student receives a personal copy of the book to read.  With professional artists and instructors, students participate in various dance, drama, and musical interpretations of the book within a classroom setting.  As a culminating activity, students perform a choreographed routine to the reading of the book for their school and families. 

To date the program has been introduced to 10 schools reaching out to over 500 students.

Program Leaders:
Jude Johnson, Hamilton’s Ambassador to Music
Melania Pawliw
Kristin Stawiarski

Book Synopsis: 

“Listen to the beating drum
That tells a hundred stories -
Of our people - of our homeland
Some of birds and beasts and sweet grass.
Close your eyes and listen
You might come to hear a story -
That no one hears but you alone
A story of your very own.”

A young First Nations boy is preparing for his first pow-wow. The young boy's Nukum - his beloved grandmother - guides him through the events of the day and helps him to understand what the singing and dancing are about. With Nokum by his side, the boy learns that he must find his own song - the song within his heart.

The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble extends their sincere gratitude to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for sponsoring this project.