Lafayette Parish

The Drum Circle (PK-5)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lee Ann Broussard, Music, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Playing for peace in the world, playing for a sick friend, or playing with the hope that everyone does well on testing…but what do these have to do with drums? Well, they are all intentions, and drum circles come together with intention. Students in this session will set their own intentions while they learn three simple hand movements on the djembe or other percussive instruments sitting together in a circle. They will learn how to play the rhythms they feel while thinking of others. At the same time, they will practice staying musically in time/in count with the rest of the group. Drumming circles build community and keep communities strong. If these are intentions for your classroom, consider this session!

Moving Through Testing Anxiety (PK-8)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Iberia Parish, Kelsey Billiot, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, School Celebrations/Events, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Ours can be an anxious world, and taking tests has never been fun. Knowing calming techniques can make that all better! Support students through high-stakes seasons with movement-based tools to release tension and reset the nervous system. Activities in this creative movement session promote regulation, focus, and emotional awareness during testing time.

Hip-Hop History LIVE (K-12)

by Mandy McGee | Art History, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Heritage Months/Celebrations, High School, Iberia Parish, Jude Romero (Kabuki Dancers), Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish

This program breaks down the four elements of Hip-Hop culture which are: DJing, Graffiti, MCing and Breakdancing. If booked during February (Black History Month), an additional discussion of Hip-Hop’s importance to Black History is added. The goal of this program is to explain how Hip-Hop is more than just a genre of music and provide some history on the culture. Everything discussed will be demonstrated LIVE!

Breakin’ It Down: The History of Breakdancing (K-12)

by Mandy McGee | Art History, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Jude Romero (Kabuki Dancers), Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

It’s Breakdancing 101! Take a deep dive into the history of Breakdancing and discuss some musical history relative to the dance. Then, it’s time to get active! Various dance moves and styles will be demonstrated live for the audience. A dance workshop makes up the majority of this session so a gym, cafeteria or similar space is required.

Drop the B.E.A.T (Bullying Ends After Talking) (K-6)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Jude Romero (Kabuki Dancers), Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

In this innovative session, the elements of Hip-Hop culture are used to address the different types of bullying present in the lives of today’s youth. The overall theme is “Bullying Ends After Talking,” which allows students to express their personal experiences, concerns, and maybe even share some advice for their fellow peers while they are guided and entertained along the way. The entertainment elements of DJing, MCing, and Breakdancing are performed live for the audience throughout the show. This is a social and emotional journey, and a musical one as well!

Quilting Louisiana Culture (1-4)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Michael Crotty, Single Session, Social Studies, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

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.

Moving Through Math: Exploring Geometry & Space with Laban Movement (3-5)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Math, Michael Crotty, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Bring together “Choreutics,” the human body, platonic solids, and more! Students in this session will explore geometric concepts and spatial reasoning through the lens of dance by using Rudolf Laban’s Space Harmony (or Choreutics) principles. Through structured movement activities, students will embody geometric shapes, lines, angles, symmetry, and transformations (translation, rotation, reflection), thus reinforcing their math understanding through kinesthetic learning. This lesson supports Louisiana Math Standards while fostering creative expression and body awareness.

Exploring Space Harmony: Integrating Math and Dance through Icosahedrons (2-5)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Math, Michael Crotty, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Let’s bring geometry to life through movement! In this hands-on, minds-on class, students will explore the powerful intersection of mathematics and dance using toothpicks, gumdrops, and their own bodies. Inspired by Rudolf Laban’s concept of Space Harmony, learners will build their own icosahedrons—one of the five Platonic solids—and use it to discover spatial direction, symmetry, and dynamic movement. This class is perfect for integrating STEM, dance, and art; the lesson supports multiple intelligences, encourages teamwork, and deepens spatial awareness—all while having fun! No prior dance or math specialization needed—just curiosity and creativity.

Character in Motion: Bringing Stories to Life Through Movement (K-8)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Michael Crotty, Middle School, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Theatre, Vermilion Parish

Unlock your students’ imaginations by merging creative writing and expressive movement in this dynamic, cross-disciplinary class. Using Rudolf Laban’s Effort Qualities as a springboard, students will explore how characters feel, move, and act—then bring them to life on the page and in their bodies. Students will experiment with eight distinct movement energies (e.g., strong vs. light, direct vs. indirect), then use those physical sensations to develop original characters. Through guided writing activities, they’ll create stories, monologues, or sketches that reflect their characters’ unique ways of moving and thinking. Along the way, they’ll build empathy, deepen their understanding of emotional expression, and connect movement to storytelling and social-emotional learning. This lesson is perfect for integrating dance, drama, and literacy; look forward to a class that supports kinesthetic learners, inspires creativity, and encourages a deeper connection between body, mind, and story.

Command the Room – Movement tools for Public Speaking (7-12)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Michael Crotty, Middle School, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Theatre, Vermilion Parish

Help students develop dynamic, authentic presence by exploring Laban’s Effort Qualities—a system for understanding how movement expresses intention, emotion, and energy. In this interactive session, students will identify how body language, gesture, and physical effort impact communication. Then, students will apply those insights to improve their own public speaking. Through movement exploration, speaker analysis, and short performance practice, students will build greater confidence, self-awareness, and expressive control—essential skills for any speaking, debate, or performance context.

ADDITIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION RESOURCES