The Beat Goes On
Since 2000, River North’s The Beat Goes On has benefited under-served Chicago Public School students through in-school and after-school residencies. Now aligned with dance-specific Common Core State standards, this program also helps students achieve parallel goals in reading and mathematics in dance. The Beat Goes on has reached students in a diverse range of neighborhoods across Chicago including West Town, Englewood, Humbolt Park, Logan Square, North Lawndale, Albany Park, West Ridge and Ravenswood.
Each classroom residency session includes a warm-up, locomotor exercises, choreography and dance literacy, concluding with reflections from the students on what they enjoyed and learned. In addition to weekly classes, each partnership features a family field trip to experience a professional performanc by River North Dance Chicago at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Additionally, at the close of the school year, select students perform in Chance to Dance, River North Dance Chicago’s annual education showcase at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, where students have the opportunity to debut the movement they have learned during the school year. Working towards a performance adds excitement to the learning process and provides added incentive for excellence.
For more information, or to request a residency in your school, please contact Education Coordinator Alison Rootberg.
