PS DANCE! THE NEXT GENERATION shows what happens when students become the teachers.
When Ann Biddle (Director of The DEL Institute – Teacher Certificate Program) moved to Northampton, MA, she was determined to bring dance education to all of the schools in her new town. She turned to her students to make it happen. High school and Middle school dance students were immersed in DEL’s teaching methods and emerged inspired and empowered.
Each year, they put into practice what they’ve learned by leading elementary school students in a three-week dance intensive! This unique combination of community service, mentoring, collaborative teaching and high-level training is nothing short of transformational. PS DANCE! THE NEXT GENERATION, follows the journey of Ann and her students as they build confidence, learn responsibility and find their passion.
The makers of New York Emmy Award-nominated PS DANCE! are back to prove that with ingenuity and commitment, every school can be a dance school. Created by filmmaker Nel Shelby and dance ambassador Jody Gottfried Arnhold.
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A dream to produce & direct…
Years later, I still feel so privileged to have directed & produced PS DANCE! — a documentary showcasing the inspiring impact of dance education in NYC public schools. Before making that first PS DANCE! film, I didn’t fully realize that I’m an advocate for dance education. Jody came into my life and pointed it out.
When she invited me into the classrooms of five NYC public school dance educators, I felt the world get brighter. I felt the same joy filming the unique combination of community service, mentoring, collaborative teaching and high-level training in this second documentary film. This work is nothing short of transformational for all students involved!
More stories to tell about dance education…
We knew PS DANCE! would continue to illuminate the powerful impact dance education can have on every child, and we knew we had more stories to tell!!
Jody approached me about a second film in September 2018. This film focuses on an exceptional and inspiring program created by Ann Biddle, Founding Faculty for Jody’s Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) and newly appointed Director of The DEL Institute – Teacher Certificate Program. High school and middle school dance students are immersed in DEL’s teaching methods and emerge inspired and empowered. Each year, they put into practice what they’ve learned by leading elementary school students in a three-week dance intensive!
Join the Movement
Bring dance education into more public schools. #psdancenyc #danceforeverychild
Film Credits
Produced & Directed by Nel Shelby
Executive Producer Jody Gottfried Arnhold
Edited by Ashli Bickford
Supervising Editor Nel Shelby
Music composed by Punchandice (Alba S. Torremocha & Lillie R. McDonough)
Cinematographers Ashli Bickford, Nate Reininga & Nel Shelby
Drone Operator Nate Reininga
On-location sound Jim Petty
Audio Mixer Donovan Dorrance
Color Grading Cody Buesing
Graphic Design Nate Reininga
Copywriting Amy Jacobus
Photos by Shana Sureck