Brian’s extensive experience as a dance teacher, choreographer and international dance performer make him the teacher of choice for your next dance experience. Each workshop session, in addition to introducing friendly, sequential patterns of traditional dances and improvised choreography, fosters an atmosphere of positive energy, historical context, team accomplishment and respectful evaluation. Even the “average” student will master and create soulful moves far beyond what they believed possible.

Ballroom, Social and Rock Dances through the Decades, their multi-cultural histories and music styles
(Grades K – 12, and Teacher Training)

Dance history illuminates human experience and values and reveals facets of different cultures. By learning, creating and evaluating dances students learn to apply choreographic principals and analytical thinking skills and to feel history come alive by doing authentic steps from our diverse dance heritage.

1900 – 1910: waltz • ragtime; 1910 – 1920: polka • blues; 1920 – 1930: charleston • tango; 1930 – 1940: swing • rumba; 1940 – 1950: rhythm & blues • samba; 1950 – 1960: bop/hop • cha cha; 1960 – 1970: rock • line • novelty dances; 1970 – 1990: disco • salsa • hip hop

Students will learn: steps, moves, and partnering; and tricks of leading and following; where the dances came from, how they evolved, what made them a “craze;” the “math” that underlies dance rhythms and meters.

And then....... Pump up the energy by doing traditional steps to hip hop music or student ideas. Learn period songs to create a family night presentation of song and dance by decade.

And for your K – 2 dancers…
Explore the joy of folk, line and square dances and some funky movement and rhythm games.

Raps, Rhythms and Moves of the Hip Hop Culture
For: Grades 3 – 12 and Teacher Training

Hip Hop is the perfect catalyst for exploring elements of poetry, rhythms and dance in the language of contemporary youth. Hip Hop arts incorporate metaphors, rhymes, meter, hip moves, self-awareness, social consciousness and collaboration. We first dissect poetry of Langston Hughes or Robert Frost in preparation for creating poems based on topical concerns. Next, students create hip hop rhythm patterns that easily convert their new poems into full-fledged raps. Finally, students master basic hip hop and robotic dance moves enabling them to take their raps and rhythms to a whole new level of performance.

Swing Dance Intensive
For: Grades 3 – 12 and Teacher Training

Students learn the origins and history of swing, then master the high-energy partnered jumps, kicks, turns and fancy footwork that made swing dancing America’s favorite dance. Students learn a two to three-minute swing dance routine to become real cool cats

Never Too Small to Boogie
For: Grades K – 2 and Teacher Training

Try the Bunny Hop to some disco music, or a line dance to some James Brown funk. Spell out your name, Y.M.C.A.-style. How would the wind dance; or a jellyfish? Do it low, large, in reverse, in slow-motion, etc. Sound like fun? Your youngest students learn basic loco-motor movements and accuracy in moving to a musical beat. Students explore the joy of creating and memorizing simple movement phrases, working alone and with partners, learning some simple folk dances and evaluating dance styles and performance. Very hip!

Teacher In-Service Training:
Teacher training and complete outlines and resource packets are available for all the above workshops. Feel the joy of dance, and learn sequential dance skills and teaching methods for effectively interacting with students and for providing a safe, respectful and energized environment.

“Our students were genuinely surprised by Mr. Gillie’s dance abilities and enthusiastic about their interactive roles.” North Center School, Southington, CT

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(culminates with the production of a complete, “hit” song)

Brian’s music and compositional skills, and his insatiable sense of wonder and humor make him the teacher of choice for getting the most out of a songwriting experience. Brian’s songwriting workshop emphasizes the varied structures and creative uses of rhythm, theme, lyrics, melody harmony and style. The classes explore how business, culture and the rules of grammar, poetry and music determine a song’s effectiveness. Brian offers an insider’s guide for effective live performance, a dose of intuitive “cool” and a little mischief to enhance the mood and break down inhibitions.

Teacher In-Service Development:
Learn insiders’ techniques and essential elements for successful songwriting: basics and fundamentals of music, creative writing, business and culture and their interdependent roles for producing the final product. Learn methods for sequential, effective and “hip” teaching.

“Dance in America,” “Song, Dance and the Possibilities,” “Salute to Song in America,” “Early Rock and Roll,” “Rhythm and Music.”

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