Connecticut K-12 Dance Certification Courses Offered at NVCC, June 23 – August 1

Waterbury, Conn. – Naugatuck Valley Community College is offering summer intensive courses toward dance certification for current, prospective and magnet school dance teachers as well as anyone with experience in dance, experience with teaching who would like to cross endorse, or an interest in taking dance courses over the summer. The program will run June 23 – August 1.

The “Formal Pathways” program is required by the state Department of Education as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. Beginning with school year 2010-2011, all theatre arts and dance teachers serving in Connecticut public schools must hold appropriate certification.

Naugatuck Valley Community College is one of only three Connecticut colleges to be designated by the State as a “Formal Pathways” higher education institution for theatre arts and dance. Students may begin coursework at NVCC and then transfer credits to Central Connecticut State University to complete certification.

Deanna Rose Russo began her dance studies at NVCC as a freshman and will begin teaching at Kinsella Magnet School in Hartford this fall.

“One superintendent called me a triple threat. I’m an elementary certified teacher and an English major, plus I was able to cross endorse with the dance certification because I took the ‘Formal Pathways’ courses at NVCC,” said Russo.

Summer courses are open to anyone who wishes to further explore a passion for dance, regardless of a desire to teach. The following courses will be offered at NVCC this summer:

• Ballet IV: Renaissance to Classical
  MW: 9-12 & F: 9-10:30
• Modern Dance IV: From Pioneers to Contemporary
  TR: 9-12 & F: 10:30-12
• Kinesiology for Dancers
  MW: 1-4 & F: 1-2:30
• Jazz Dance III: Musical Theatre Dance
  MTW: 6-9
• Dance Pedagogy for Elementary Education
  T: 1-4
• Dance Pedagogy for Secondary Education
  R: 1-4
• Choreographic Principles
  TR: 1-4 & F 2:30-4

For more information, contact Elena Rusnak, chair of the department of the arts and professor of dance, at (203)575-8179 or erusnak@nvcc.commnet.edu.