During the spring of 2024, students in both programs were photographed and filmed demonstrating essential dance techniques. The content was captured as educational material for the textbook, which is now being utilized in classrooms nationwide.

“This was an amazing experience for our performing artists,” said Dawn Valentine, CFBISD coordinator of fine arts. “The students got to be a part of the process, not just the product, which is so special.”

The opportunity for the schools to be featured in the textbook came after Dr. Gayle Kassing, the author of Discovering Dance 2nd Edition, reached out to Stephanie Laranjeira, GIMDC director, in December of 2023. Dr. Kassing was seeking fresh choreography that better reflected current dance practices for the new edition. After considering several educators and choreographers, she selected Laranjeira to contribute her choreography for the textbook.

In January of 2024, Dr. Kassing tasked Laranjeira with creating a one-minute choreography piece for six specific chapters of the textbook, including Dance for All, Safety, Health and Wellness, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance, Musical Theater and Auditions. Videos of the choreography were submitted for approval to Dr. Kassing and Bethany Bentley, the Acquisition Director at Human Kinetics and publisher of the book.

As part of the creation process, Dr. Kassing requested that the dancers be diverse and skilled, with a mix of genres represented. Laranjeira recommended that dancers from both GIMDC and MGDC be involved, noting that they were well-versed in the selected styles and would be ideal for the project. After reviewing video submissions of the dancers, the team at Human Kinetics selected performers from both schools to execute the choreography.

The photo and video shoot took place at Newman Smith under the management and coordination of Ronelle Eddings, MGDC director. Over the course of three days, the dancers performed choreographed routines for the camera and posed for photos. In addition to Laranjeira’s choreography, students also performed pieces by several guest instructors, including:

• Alpana Jacob, Indian dance
• Brittany Padilla, African dance drumming
• Edward Kwame Dogbe, African dance drumming
• Gladys Keeton, folk and social dance
• Memunatu (Muna) Alorwoyie, African dance
• Nathanial Ash-Morgan, African dance drumming
• Quinton Winston, hip-hop 

“It was incredible to see our students in a professional setting creating something that will be used by dancers all over the country,” said Laranjeira. “It’s an honor to have their hard work and talent showcased in this way.”

The second edition of Discovering Dance, published in October 2024, is now available for purchase and features the district’s dancers on the cover and throughout the book. In addition, the choreography videos are accessible via a link at the end of each chapter, allowing students and teachers to engage with the material in a dynamic, interactive way.

Gallery in Motion Dance Company is the Newman Smith HS’s advanced performance company. Students are selected through a rigorous audition process each spring. The company has performed throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, such as Brookhaven Community College, Collin County Community College, University of Texas at Dallas, Dance Planet, Imagination Celebration and the Texas Coalition for the Quality of Arts Education. GIMDC has also been selected to perform in multiple showcase concerts for the National High School Dance Festival, which is held in various locations around the United States. 

More about Moving Ground Dance Company: 

MGDC offers Creekview HS students a unique exploration of artistic dance, primarily focusing on modern/contemporary styles while incorporating ballet, jazz and hip-hop. The company emphasizes choreography and performance throughout the year, culminating in appearances at regional and national festivals. Past successful performances include selections at the TAHPERD Conventions, Tennessee State Dance Festival and the National High School Dance Festival.