Dalcroze Lessons

As part of this conference, there are several keynotes each day and usually they include a teaching demonstration.  On the first day it was just a general class, on the second day we got to watch a group of elderly people do Dalcroze for the first time, and today we saw a group of children.  There is so much to learn from the teaching that goes into these and so much to see as an outsider from the growth that is happening.  

Yesterday it was really beautiful to see the group of older adults learn to find a beat with their bodies, learn to look up at one another, to coordinate their hands and feet, to hold a beat in the minds and pick it up again mid-phrase, to express themselves in front of others with different body gestures and poses, to make social connections with one another right in front of us on the stage.  They came out of their boxes and really blossomed over the course of 45 minutes.  There is a study that has shown that Dalcroze can reduce falling in elderly people 50% (more so than dance lessons and other similar activities) and it most certainly raises self-esteem and a sense of social belonging. 

The class today with children was very different, but it gave a sense of pacing and calm that I would not have anticipated seeing in children.  The teacher really expected them to hold attention on what she was offering, and stayed with their focus throughout the lesson (all while doing it in her non-native language of French).  For me it was a lesson in breath while teaching.  

We have one more day here to take in more of what is available from these great teachers.  Very fortunate to have this opportunity.