Program areas at Momentum-Excellence
Year-Long Program - Momentum teaching artists and keyboard accompanists lead 4th grade boys and girls in a weekly 45-minute dance class during their school day in order to develop life skills that lead to personal and academic success. The program serves elementary schools in the Columbus City and Hilliard School Districts. The program culminates in a spring performance at the Davidson Theatre in downtown Columbus. This program reaches more than 850 Central Ohio children.
Early Learners - This program is an adaptation of Momentums dance methodology for preschool-aged children. Conducting weekly classes over an 8-week period, instructors use creative movement in order to impact social-emotional learning, cognition, and the development of skills essential for school readiness. The classes correspond to many of the Ohio Department of Education Early Learning and Development Standards. The final class consists of a showcase presented to family, friends and community members.
Advanced Teams:Team excel (Team XL) - Dancers who demonstrate excellence and discipline in the YearLong Program are invited to participate in Team XL. Members of this group attend dance classes during out of school hours in the winter and spring to learn advanced choreography and rehearse additional dances that are performed in the year-end show.Team extraordinary (Team XO) - After completing the Year-Long Program, Team XL dancers are invited to participate as members of Team XO. This group attends dance classes, performs additional dances in the year-end show and comprises Momentums Community Performance Troupe. As such, they have special opportunities to perform in the community with arts and civic organizations and at community events. XO dancers may continue with Momentum through the eighth grade.
Residencies - In an effort to meet demand, Momentum conducts eight-to-twelve-week residencies in elementary schools for children from first to fifth grade. The residency program includes a compressed version of the year-long program, culminating in an in-school performance for fellow classmates, family, friends and community members to enjoy.
Momentum University (Mo U) - Mo U is a two-week summer intensive program for Advanced Team dancers which serves as a workshop for the coming school years curriculum year-end performance. A new theme is chosen each year. Over the course of two weeks, participants learn and rehearse choreography, create sets, props, and costumes and participate in lectures and workshops that address the current years theme. The program culminates in a free, community performance on stage at the Columbus Commons.