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Profile, Resume & References

Barbara Pearson - Profile

Barbara Pearson is a dancer/choreographer and arts-in-education consultant. An authority on historic, social and ethnic dance forms, Barbara has had extensive training and performance experience in classical ballet, modern, and theatre dance. Her mission is to create and offer artistic experiences of the highest caliber, while providing educational opportunities to people of all abilities. A resident of Bethlehem since 1976, Barbara's artistic career has revolved around dance, choreography and educational outreach--mostly for children and families--both in and outside of the Lehigh Valley. She is well known for her expertise and enthusiasm in sharing her love of dance, movement and the arts with people of all ages and levels of experience. Her dance work often focuses on disabled children.

Barbara is an avid participant in her local community, investing especially in its cultural and historical resources. Dedicated to developing a regional arts-in-education initiative, Barbara was the founding director of the Lehigh Valley Arts Council Arts-in-Education Coalition, bringing together artists, arts organizations and educators to create quality arts

programs in area schools. As administrator for this program, she published a resource book and bimonthly newsletter, produced an advocacy video, established an elementary school model program, and raised the monies to fund these projects.

Barbara's specialty is teaching academic core curriculum through the use of movement and the arts. She presents hands-on workshops to students and educators, using original projects such as "Meteorology in Motion" to demonstrate how movement is used to motivate learning in mathematics, science and language arts. She has served as a consultant for Artsgenesis (New York City), Penn State University College of Education (State College, PA), and Northeastern Intermediate Unit #19 (Scranton, PA). Barbara is a rostered artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In addition, she has made presentations for students and teachers in locations as far-reaching as Black Mountain, North Carolina; Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Barbara holds a Masters Degree in Movement Studies from Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut) and is a two-time graduate of the Project Zero Institute at Harvard University, where she studied Multiple Intelligences Theory under Dr. Howard Gardner.

Choreography and Performances

February 2002
Choreographed and co-designed "Dancing with Bach," an interactive family concert featuring Repertory Dance Theatre performers live on stage with the entire Bach Choir and Bach Festival Orchestra. Performed at Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University. (Program played to a sold-out house and was just the second time that the Bach Choir had collaborated with dance.)

April 2000
Choreographed "Disabled, Empowered and Proud," an original musical celebrating rights of the physically challenged. Featured a mixed cast of disabled and non-disabled dancers. Show premiered in CAP Studio in New York City and was a featured performance at DEED 2000 (a conference for the disabled), Rochester, NY.

1985-1998
Choreographer and performing member of "Two in Time," a duo with Con Gallagher, performing historic dances from the Middle Ages to the present. Performed at Allentown Art Museum, Mayfair, Pennsylvania

Music Teachers' Association State Convention (State College, PA); Musikfest (accompanied by Philadelphia Brass); Independent Choreographers' Concert (Tompkins College Center Theatre). Also taught masters classes in historic dance.

1984-1994
Performed annually at Musikfest with Colonial and Renaissance Dance and "Dance and Play with Barbara Pearson," in which children joined Barbara in a "dancing in the streets" performance.

1979-1983
Founder, choreographer and performing member of Capriole Dancers, a group performing authentic Renaissance dances with Moravian College Collegium Musicum, directed by Larry Lipkis. Researched and choreographed 10 programs based on Renaissance manuscripts and music. Performed at Moravian College as part of the Music Department series. Also performed at numerous venues including University of Penn Museum, Swarthmore College and Lehigh University.

1977-1983
Co-authored, directed and choreographed, "Christmas Revels," a Renaissance Christmas musical extravaganza performed annually at

Packer Memorial Chapel, Lehigh University. (Show was revised as "Make We Merry," at Touchstone Theatre.)

1976-1980
Co-founder, co-artistic director, People's Theatre Company, Bethlehem, PA, which was the forerunner of Touchstone Theatre. Directed and choreographed:

"Beauty and the Beast"-Dance theatre for children. Original musical score by Larry Lipkis and design by Ricardo Viera.

"Petrushka"-Original multimedia theatre for children, touring Oxford and London, England; Lincoln Center, Walter Bruno Auditorium, and 80 performances in schools and community centers.

"Young Person's Guide to an Orchestra"-by Benjamin Britten with the Young Person's Philharmonic. Performed at Muhlenberg's Baker Center for the Arts, Empie Theatre, Allentown, PA.

Professional Experience

1982-present
"Learning through Movement" Arts-in-Education Consultant Offers programs promoting movement and arts integration activities in elementary and middle school, special education, preschool settings, festivals and community groups. Teaches professional development seminars for teachers, guiding them in the use of movement in their classrooms. Clients include Artsgenesis (New York City), Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Penn State University School of Education, ArtSpace Charter School (Black Mountain, North Carolina), Pennsylvania Music Teachers' Association, and Allentown Art Museum, among others.

1992-1997
Founding director and staff member of Lehigh Valley Arts Council Arts in Education Coalition. Developed a regional arts-in-education initiative. Published a resource book and bi-monthly newsletter, produced an advocacy video, established an elementary school model arts infused program. Wrote grant proposals resulting in $80,000 awarded for these projects.

1994
Instructor, Northampton Community College, Early Childhood Department, Bethlehem, PA. Led "Movement and Music in Early Childhood Education," two (2) sections. Total enrollment: 50 pre-service teachers.

1989-1997
Founding board member of Rose Garden Children's Festival (Bethlehem, PA). Three-day arts and sciences workshop for children. Co-wrote the mission statement and helped formulate educational policies and programs. Worked as performing arts program director, coordinating and scheduling professional and community talent performing at the festival.

1982-1992
Owner and instructor of Capriole School of Dance, a studio for children aged three to 16 (Bethlehem, PA).

Education

Wesleyan University, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Dance, Movement, Child Development, Communication Skills, Group Leadership, Psychology

Carleton College, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts
French Language and Literature

Dance Training
Ft. Wayne Ballet School & Company
Ballet and Character

American Dance Festival
Merce Cunningham and Martha Graham
Modern Dance and Composition

Alwin Nicholais at Henry Street Playhouse
Modern Dance and Composition

Awards and Honors

• Graduate, Project Zero Institute (with Dr. Howard Gardner), Harvard University - 1998 and 2002

• Appreciation Award, Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - 1996

• Distinguished Service Award, Dance Forum of the Lehigh Valley - 1994

• PCA Rostered Artist - 1994- present

• Obtained over $40,000 in grant funding as a result of proposals written to fund choreography and artist residencies

Special Interests

• Choreography - Creative Dance and Drama - Costumes

• Period Dance - Historical and Educational Research

• Entertainment Production - Writing