Research Inquiries
Below are just a few highlights of Natalie's research. She has additionally investigated John Dewey's influence on dance education pedagogies, cultural influences in the dance form Jonkonnu, and religious influences in the dance forms of Bharata Natyam and Hasidism dance.
Literature Review: The Influence of Learning and Remembering Strategies in the Motor Learning of a Dance Movement Sequence
As part of Introduction to Research in Dance Education, at Rutgers University, Natalie researched how dancers learn and recall movement sequences. This inquiry focused on the cognitive processes and skills involved in motor learning and strategies that aid in memory for movement.
As a dance educator, the understanding of and inclusion of motor learning principals are essential for meeting the needs of the diverse learners that move and learn in our studio-classrooms. With this, including strategies for learning and remembering in our teaching practices enables our students to learn and perform motor skills in more efficient ways-impacting students’ artistic development and expression.
Left: The title page of Natalie's PowerPoint used while presenting her literature review as part of Introduction to Research in Dance Education at Rutgers University. Click here to view this accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Click here to read "The Influence of Learning and Remembering Strategies in the Motor Learning of a Dance Movement Sequence."
Connecting Dance and Reading Comprehension
ABSTRACT: Dance can lead the development of reading, writing, and oral language skills. Along with this, reading is a hot topic, but it is not enough for a child to be able to decode text; they must also be able to comprehend it. Strategies for teaching reading comprehension through movement and dance are provided to nurture the skills of visualizing, inferring, making connections, determining importance, synthesizing, and questioning. In addition, the role of dance in reading comprehension is to engage all learners, utilize higher order thinking skills, reach the whole child, and foster a literate classroom community. In conclusion, dance can lead literacy development, better prepare students for the unknown future, and enhance comprehension of all modes of expression. Resources are drawn from the works and findings of “Physical Education and Language Integration: Effects On Oral and Written Speech Of Pre-School Children,” and “Read My Dance: Promoting Early Writing Through Dance.”
Left: Natalie presenting "Connecting Dance and Reading Comprehension" at Scholars' Day 2013 at SUNY College at Brockport.
Family Systems Theory
As an educator, Natalie believes in the strength and essentiality of communicating and involving families in their child's education. Fostering this relationship through getting to know students’ families and the culture and climate in which they live, communicating with them in their native language, and staying in contact with them can positively impact our students’ education.
As part of Introduction to Special Education, at SUNY College at Brockport, Natalie researched the principles of the family systems theory. This inquiry included the impact of family involvement and parent-teacher relationships in education, as well as working with and meeting the needs of students and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Left: Through volunteering at The National Museum of Play at the Strong Natalie engaged with families in the Rochester community. Here she is pictured volunteering and leading circle dances at one of their Royal Ball events.
Photo credit: Kevin Warner