With both an MA and BA degree in Dance, and a Royal Society of Arts Diploma in Fine and Decorative Arts she interprets the social context of the dance and its importance. She held positions of Professor of Early Dance at the Royal College of Music, London, England for 9 years, and is currently Adjunct Professor of Dance History at Gettysburg College and Adjunct Professor of Ballroom Dance and Ballet at Wilson College.

Artists in Education

Artists in Education are rigorously vetted to ensure the highest standards of application and presentation of arts to school children via their normal curriculum. The concept is to make art a vehicle for enhancing the everyday subjects that the children study, while at the same time exposing the children to an art form they may not normally come into contact with during school time.

The Artist is retained for a minimum of a 10 day residency working with the teachers to relate their art to the curriculum during normal lesson time.

Funding for the artist is shared equally between the school and the PA Council on the Arts. Normally daily rates are around $250.00 depending on the artists being engaged.

For full details of the scheme visit: www.pacouncilonthearts.org/aie/ or www.stARTSomething-aie.org

Nancy J. Walker, MA, BA, DipRSA Year accepted - Re-rostered 2006                   2009 Age Range for Residencies: Elementary, Middle/Junior, High School, Adult, Senior Citizen
Artist Statement: As a specialist in dance history, I use social and theatrical historical dance as a basis to bring historical periods to life. The time periods that I cover are the Renaissance, Colonial, Regency, Victorian and Ragtime eras (15th - early 20th centuries). I have assisted in helping students make the all-important connections between dance and the world in which it existed. It is my firm belief that the more connections students can make between their subjects, the more meaningful their studies will be to them as well as opening new avenues for exploration. The benefits of such a program are an understanding of the importance of good manners, improvement in posture and deportment, an increase in body awareness and self-confidence, and a greater appreciation of the past. The culmination of my residency could involve a period ball or student dance performance for the entire community utilizing all of the related subjects explored in the program. I have extensive 18 years' international performing and teaching experience of historical dance which has helped to develop a multi-cultural approach. I have an M.A. degree in Dance (specialising in Dance History), a B.A. degree in Dance, and a Royal Society of Art Diploma in Fine and Decorative Arts from Christie's (London, England). My training has enabled me to inter-connect the entire spectrum of dance as a continuum of social and artistic evolution from the early Renaissance to present day. As a dance historian I strive for historical accuracy, and take responsibility for providing thorough historical research, a logical method in presenting the material, and an orderly framework to enhance understanding and learning.