Work History

Together in Dance was founded in 2000 (under the name Together in Dance: Zalesky and Associates, Inc.) with the primary purpose of providing professional development to dance educators, physical educators, classroom teachers, and dance teaching artists. In January 2008, the company incorporated under Together in Dance, Inc. (TID) as a not-for-profit, and continues to provide quality dance programming for all children. The company has grown to include dance residencies, musical theater residencies, family workshops, and support in program design.  Our team building approach actively engages participants in creative problem solving and reflection on their creative process. The company’s work always utilizes the NY State Learning Standards for the Arts and the NYC Curriculum Framework for the Arts. Since the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts became available, it is also included in our pedagogical approach. All programs are tailor-made in collaboration with administrators to support the needs of the participants.

 

Program Highlights:

  • NYC Dept. of Education - Offices of the Arts and Special Projects & Early Childhood Education
    • Training the 70 Early Childhood Trainers in applications of creative movement
  • NYC Dept. of Education - Offices of the Arts and Special Projects
    • Consulting committee for Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts: Dance
    • PD workshops introducing Dance Educators to the Blueprint
  • NYC. Dept of Education and Region 10 - Offices of Fitness and Physical Development
    • Piloting Physical Best Moves, a PD model which develops the relationship between Physical Educators and classroom teachers using dance as the common thread
  • Regions 6, 7, and 8
    • Ongoing PD for Dance Educators in Brooklyn and Staten Island
  • Community School District 27
    • Kids on the Move - a yearlong PD model funded by the Carol M. White Physical Ed. Program , US Dept of Ed. The participating teachers created their own resource guide and choreographed the culminating dance celebration with their K-2 students.
  • Community School Districts 29, 31, 18
    • PD workshops with coaching designed for classroom teachers
  • Community School District 15 -- PD series designed for Physical Educators
  • Regular presenters at the following conferences:
    • dance and the Child international (daCi)
    • National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
    • New York City Arts in Education Roundtable’s Face to Face
  • Center for Arts Education
    • Annenberg Partnership grants (two schools)
    • Leadership Grant (one school)
    • Parents as Arts Partners - partnerships with schools in all five boroughs
  • New Zealand Fulbright
    • Lectured and advised across the country regarding PD in support of their newly established arts curriculum
  • Michigan State University -- 3 day PD series for East Lansing , MI Public School teachers

In addition, we continue to:

  • Serve as mentors to Hunter College Dance Education majors
  • Build on our exemplary models of PD workshops that include a co-teaching component
    • To date we have worked with approximately 600 teachers and administrators throughout the metropolitan area
  • Establish dance residencies - presently in twenty schools serving over 4,000 students

For additional information contact:

Jannas Zalesky
201-837-8663
JanZalesky@Aol.com

Dancer