KJon2’s I.O.T.A

Initiative Of The Arts – is a dynamic movement practice — a practice of being in your body — that ignites creativity, connection, and community.

4 Elements

This program creates opportunities for the scholars to explore and develop different artistical skills such as voice, movement, and creative imagination. Through games, ensemble activities, choreographies, performances, dance history, as well as cultural reviews, we will broaden the student’s vocabulary. The first half of the program focused on developing dance history and understanding of dance concepts. The second half will focus on movement, choreography, and overall preparation for performances. Culminating performances will be shared with other students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Faculty:

  • Guest instructors 
  • Live musicians 
  • Technical crew for final performance (Lighting designer, Stage Manager, Sound Technician – could also be students)  

Instructors:

Katherine Jimenez – Afro Latin

Guest artist 2 – Ballet  

Guest artist 3 – Modern 

Guest artist 4  – Hip Hop 

Board of Directors: 

Katherine Jimenez – Founder and Program/Artistic Director 

Susan Ettenheim – Secretary 

Magnolia Jimenez – Outreach coordinator 

Aline – Treasurer 

Kristal Jimenez – Board president/ Event Planning

Support KJon2 I.O.T.A

Mission Statement:

I.O.T.A. first developed an ongoing curriculum after having founded the Dance program for Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics, which had no previous Dance programming. Since then, I.O.T.A. has developed its training processes while working with institutions like, The Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology, I.S. 217 School of Performing Arts, P.S. 153 Adam Clayton Powell, Professional Performing Arts High School, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, the Ailey Extension and the Ailey Experience. Providing similar dance-making models in elementary, middle and high schools across the city. 

This initiative is modeled after the roots of a tree. The root system of a tree performs many vital functions. Roots can preserve, absorb, and transport. Much like all of our history, roots are the foundation for which we can build on. Observed separately, each dance technique appears to be different in its elements and concepts from one another. However, this curriculum will help the students recognize just how intertwined dance and music genuinely are. Healing will take place through reflection on history and ancestry. Slowing students to merge past and present cultural references. Integration of Multicultural dances into the Performing Arts curriculum will give young dancers the ability to choose from vast techniques what they would like to adopt. Dancers will learn how to dance and create with more tools than ever before. These techniques, just like the roots of a tree, are firmly planted in culture and the growth of humanity. Dance and history united as one will show how important it is to remember where we come from so that we can continue to pave the way of where we are going. 

Our programs assist children and teens to succeed in school; to navigate through life’s transitions; to prepare for college and careers; and to give back to the community with compassion and care. Giving back so that all young students have secure futures; that they become meaningful contributors in their communities and lead fulfilled, productive lives.

  • Empowering the youth to achieve their greatest potential.
  • Promoting healthy living, as well as, overall well-being, mentally, spiritually, and physically.
  • Our atmosphere is an invitation to feel comfortable, so that the students can express themselves in their own way with classes designed to move our bodies resulting in increased self confidence.

Programs:

60 minute lessons - full semester (10 week experience)

College and Universities – implementing much needed afro-caribbean content into existing curriculums (Repertory works)

Professional Development Workshops and Trainings for Teachers and Teaching artists (resources: music, videos)

Workshops for Corporations: Building community and moral

Elders: Dance for Students with Disabilities – (Wellness / Mental Health)

Sample Lesson Plan: 

Unit 1:  Introduction and Elements of Latin Social Dances: 

Project: Dance classes & camp; Choreographies

Project Outline: The students will work on learning different dance concepts, exercises, techniques, and choreographies. While also working on confidence, self-expression, movement, and putting together virtual and live performances.

This is a student-centered workshop series offering a progressive Dance program for schools that support NYS Performing Arts Standards and NYC Blueprint Dance learning standards while fostering social-emotional and academic growth. 

Goal: The students will learn some of the Mambo History and explore elements of the dance style 

Learning objectives: at the end of the lesson, students will demonstrate NY Style Mambo Steps (remembering choreography), and create a short phrase mixing the steps they have learned in any order, and try different facings, while staying on the timing. (Integrating elements we discuss from the style and musicality into their execution of the choreography). As well as practice responding critically to the performance of their peers. 

Materials: 

  • Screen for Powerpoint 
  • Bluetooth Speaker 
  • Music: “Aguanile” by: Hector Lavoe 
  • YouTube Video: “History of Salsa on2”

Vocabulary:

  • Isolations 
  • Suzie Q 
  • Cuban Step 
  • Side to Side 
  • Palladium 

Lesson Structure 

  • Warm up  10 Minutes
  • Body isolations to different music that implements the origins of Mambo like: Latin Jazz, Afro-Cuban, etc. 
  • The students and the teacher will work together on building a set warm-up that they structure for each unit 
  • Mini Lesson – Review of the Origins: 20 Minutes
  • Powerpoint Presentation + a YouTube Video
  • Students will share with their peers in a, “turn and talk activity” any details that they noticed in reference to the movement qualities. 
  • As well as History that they learned or already knew (KWL)
  • Main Activity – Teacher led breakdown of movements + Groups: 20 Minutes 
  • Guided movement  
  • Students will create their own variation to then share with peers. 
  • Wrap-up of Lesson – Sharing & Reflection: 10 Minutes
  • Students will get to share a small variation of the short dance they made in small groups 
  • Students will reflect on what elements they saw or noticed when watching their peers? 
  • Talk about their personal experiences after embodying this technique through this specific movements
  • As well as give constructive feedback 
  • Students will have the opportunity to reflect in their journals