How do we evaluate our dance programs?
Notes in Motion assesses programs through a 360-degree approach including letters to parents requesting feedback, surveys for teachers, interviews with students, skill tests, journal writing, word walls, drawings, games, peer feedback, comment cards, and interactive culminating events that include the entire school community. Artistic/Executive Director, Amanda Selwyn and Director of Education, Alana Urda, observe teaching artists in the classroom regularly and discuss their progress. Teaching Artists also complete a journal log for each class visit in order to document the work of the students, the success of the curriculum, challenges encountered along the way, and any spontaneous changes or decisions made while teaching. Notes in Motion works with outside evaluators who tabulate and analyze this quantitative and qualitative data and offer recommendations for curriculum, logistics, budget, program schedule, staffing, assessment tools, and communication methods.
School Leader Feedback
"With access to a dance studio, it is the most developmentally appropriate academic model you can get in an after-school environment. Besides the great exercise, students learn how to control their bodies, while exploring all of the wonderful ways they can move and create shapes as individuals and in a group."
Darlene Cameron, Principal (emeritus)
STAR Academy, Manhattan
“Dance aids in a students’ development of social and fine motor skills. The Arts are so so important as the discipline helps students to pay attention in their academic classes."
Linda Harris, Principal
PS/IS 323, Brooklyn
"With access to a dance studio, it is the most developmentally appropriate academic model you can get in an after-school environment. Besides the great exercise, students learn how to control their bodies, while exploring all of the wonderful ways they can move and create shapes as individuals and in a group."
Darlene Cameron, Principal (emeritus)
STAR Academy, Manhattan
“Dance aids in a students’ development of social and fine motor skills. The Arts are so so important as the discipline helps students to pay attention in their academic classes."
Linda Harris, Principal
PS/IS 323, Brooklyn
Student Feedback
“Dance taught me to believe in myself.” — PS 63, Manhattan
“The dance program made me feel so good and awesome!”— PS 78, Bronx
“The program taught me that different ways to express myself and show how I feel.”— PS 89, Queens
“Dance is fun and it keeps me motivated.” — PS 112, Bronx
“Dance taught me to believe in myself.”
— PS 63, Manhattan
“The dance program made me feel so good and awesome!”— PS 78, Bronx
“The program taught me that different ways to express myself and show how I feel.”—
PS 89, Queens
“Dance is fun and it keeps me motivated.” —
PS 112, Bronx
Parent/Guardian Feedback
“13 years of dance programs in elementary schools with my kids and this one stands out as the best ever. — The Neighborhood School, Manhattan
“My daughter has been very excited about the program. She learned a new form of dance that is a part of our own culture.” — PS 290, Queens
“Their smiles were priceless.” — PS 78, Bronx
“Students learned to laugh at themselves, which was a lesson they needed.” — PS 290, Queens
“This program encourages students to do well in school.” — PS 78, Bronx
“Creativity, personal expression, leadership” — The Neighborhood School, Manhattan
“This kind of program is definitely helpful for improving creativity.” — PS/IS 323, Brooklyn
“13 years of dance programs in elementary schools with my kids and this one stands out as the best ever. — Neighborhood School, Manhattan
“My daughter has been very excited about the program. She learned a new form of dance that is a part of our own culture.” — PS 290, Queens
“Their smiles were priceless.” — PS 78, Bronx
“Students learned to laugh at themselves, which was a lesson they needed.” — PS 290, Queens
“This program encourages students to do well in school.” — PS 78, Bronx
“This kind of program is definitely helpful for improving creativity.” — PS/IS 323, Brooklyn
Teacher Feedback
“The students had a lot of pride in their dance and they were able to see how practice improves performance. Throughout the dance residency, students were becoming more comfortable taking risksand trying new things.” — PS 63, Manhattan
“Exposure to various cultural dances lead some students to be more interested to learn about the languages/culture of their classmates.” — PS 78, Bronx
“The students were more inclined to work as a group.” — PS/IS 323, Brooklyn
“The students are more expressive in their interactions with each other.” — PS 78, Bronx
“Students work better together and listen to instruction more readily.” — PS 89, Queens
“The students had a lot of pride in their dance and they were able to see how practice improves performance. Throughout the dance residency, students were becoming more comfortable taking risksand trying new things.” — PS 63, Manhattan
“Exposure to various cultural dances lead some students to be more interested to learn about the languages/culture of their classmates.”
— PS 78, Bronx
“The students were more inclined to work as a group.” — PS/IS 323, Brooklyn
“The students are more expressive in their interactions with each other.” — PS 78, Bronx
“Students work better together and listen to instruction more readily.” — PS 89, Queens