Mission

The CoMotion Dance Project is in residence at the University of Montana and was developed by Karen Kaufmann, professor of dance. The company is an extension of the Mo-Trans Dance Company (founded in 1993). We reside in the School of Theatre and Dance at The University of Montana and are served by the College of Visual and Performing Arts Advisory Board. We have been performing and teaching dance in Montana schools since 1995.

The mission and purpose of the CoMotion Dance Project is to increase the presence of dance in Montana schools and communities.

 

We promote our mission through:

• Professional Development for Dance Teachers
  We prepare dance teaching artists to effectively share their art form in public schools.

• Professional Development for Classroom Teachers
  Ranges from 1-hour after-school workshops to semester-long university courses for graduate credit.

• Interdisciplinary Dance Curriculum
  Through MoDE, our highly trained dance educators develop K-12 curriculum integrating dance with math, science, language arts, social studies, health, theatre, music, art, and physical education.

• Performances/Touring
  We choreograph and tour high-energy, live, contemporary dance that is artistic, educational, exciting, and interactive.

• Service Learning
  We combine college students’ academic learning with the larger community through after-school dance classes, student touring, and teaching practicums.

• Advocacy for dance in public education
  Recent proposals to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and Montana Board of Public Education Certification Standards and Practices Advisory Council, will result in dance being recognized as a “permissive special competency”, ensuring highly qualified teachers instructing dance in K-12.