In this cross curricular arts-integrated lesson, students will explore the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana through the lens of quilt-making. Students will learn about the historical and cultural significance of quilts in Louisiana communities, and identify influences from African American, Creole, Cajun, and Native traditions. Students will discover how quilts tell stories of family, place, and identity, while making Social Studies connections. Then the class will pivot to visual arts – students will design their own quilt squares using patterns, symbols, and colors inspired by Louisiana landscapes, traditions, and festivals. Finally, dance will be incorporated! Students will bring their quilt stories to life by creating movement sequences that represent stitching, patterns, and the themes within their quilt squares. We will use elements of folk dance and creative movement to reflect unity, diversity, and storytelling. This lesson fosters collaboration, creativity, and cultural understanding all the while addressing Louisiana Student Standards in various disciplines.
TEACHING ARTIST SESSION
Quilting Louisiana Culture (1-4)
Michael Crotty is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Dance Program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Originally from Springboro, Ohio, he holds a diploma from CODARTS Conservatory in the Netherlands and an MFA in Dance from the University of Utah. Michael’s theater-dance works have been commissioned and produced by the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, Columbia College, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, California State University, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He has also collaborated with the Montreal Symphony, the National Children’s Choir, and choreographer Jerome Meyer. A dedicated educator and interdisciplinary collaborator, Michael has worked extensively in K–12 education, developing integrated curricula that empower educators to incorporate movement into the classroom. He has worked with students with exceptional needs and diverse populations; this includes creating meaningful collaborations with Focus Academy in Tampa, Florida—a school serving students with cognitive and developmental differences through arts-integrated education.
While teaching in Florida, Michael developed a graduate-level course for Communication master’s students titled Communication in Motion, exploring the intersection of embodiment, movement, and communicative practice. He also regularly presents research at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Conference, focusing on accessible programming, inclusive pedagogy, and arts integration in higher education.
Michael has served on the boards of the Utah Dance Educators Organization (UDEO) and the Florida Dance Education Organization (FDEO), where he created and launched a statewide professional development conference for dance educators.
He has taught at the University of Dayton, the University of Southern California, the University of Tampa, Southern Utah University, Point Park University, and Columbia College. Michael is a certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst (©), a certified Pilates instructor, and an American Ballet Theatre® certified ballet teacher.
