Underpinnings

Abstract

In this chapter, Mr. Evans includes essays on 12 undergirding or overarching ideas that guide his teaching practice. When appropriate, he shares the names of artists and educators with whom he interacted in person or through their writings in the process of embracing his foundational beliefs, including Peggy Hackney, Howard Gardner and Benjamin Bloom. A unifying theme for this chapter is the pursuit of positive change. Specific topics include: planting seeds of thought that sometimes bloom years later; differentiating physical activities from whole-person experiences; preparing students for their future, not our past, as we honor personal uniqueness and diversity; empowering students with the intellectual and physical tools they need to adapt to different styles of dance and ongoing change; acknowledging that true learning is active, not passive; confirming the connection between thought and action; discussing how inefficient movement patterns are developed and recognizing that old patterns must be replaced, not erased. Each essay concludes with guided reflections to assist readers in making personal meanings and/or discovering the personal relevance of the topics discussed.