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Print2009 University Dance Educator of the Year:
Dr. Billie Lepczyk
The National Dance Association proudly announces the newly nominated University National Dance Educator of the Year—Billie Lepczyk, Associate Professor in the School of Education at Virginia Tech.
Dr. Lepczyk believes that "creative dance has value in education beyond an aesthetic experience and engaging the imagination and creatiive abilites." Her research has shown that problem-solving activities improve self-confidence, enhance teamwork skills, and foster respect for diversity. Prior to university studies, Dr. Lepczyk had a dance career in Europe centered in Athens, Greece, where she performed on stage, television and in motion pictures. She earned her B.A. in Honors College from Michigan State University, and M.A. in Dance Education and Ed.D. from Teachers College-Columbia University, where she was a Teachers College Fellow. She holds Dance Notation Bureau certifications as a Professional Notator, Laban Movement Analyst, and Labanotation Teacher.
She is a Fellow of both the International Council of Kinetography Laban and the Research Consortium of AAHPERD. Her research has appeared in journals and conference proceedings. Honors include the 1998 National Dance Association Scholar/Artist Award; the 2009 National Dance Association University Dance Educator of the Year Award; Virginia Tech College Certificates of Teaching Excellence; and Southern District/AAHPERD and VAHPERD University Dance Educator of the Year Awards. She also developed a creative dance course as part of the University Core Curriculum.
Currently Lepczyk is the chair of the Board of Trustees of the International Council of Kinetography Laban; university dance education representative on the Professional Advisory Council of the Dance Notation Bureau; dance editor of JOPERD and the Virginia Journal (VAHPERD); and co-editor of Dance: Current Selected Research.
A Great Icebreaker—for Creative Dance Class
Presented by the University National Dance educator of the Year at the AAHPERD National Convention & Exposition (March 16 - 20, 2010) in Indianapolis, IN.
By invitation, the 2009 NDA University Dance Educator of the Year will share the initial assignment of her creative dance course which is part of the University Core Curriculum at Virginia Tech. Dance sequences will be constructed by ordering and pooling magazine pictures. This assignment relates to the National Dance Standards 1- 4 and serves as an icebreaker for students with diverse interests and backgrounds and a broad range of dance experience (novice to advanced-level dancers). This class has been successfully taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels in the public schools.
Objectives:
- To teach students about dance. (National Dance Content Standards 1-4). In addition to levels, shapes, movement phrase, and a composition procedure, this assignment provides practice in memorization.
- To begin to create a positive and creative, non-judgmental environment.
- To have students get to know each other and contribute to teamwork.
- To integrate novice dancers with the advanced level dancers and have them feel comfortable moving together.