Karen’s latest Artist-in-Residence was at Waubesa Intermediate School in McFarland. She taught Creative Dance classes to approximately 500 third-through fifth-graders. The students created dances through guided exploration. Problem solving techniques were employed to assist the children in making creative choices. The dances were created to celebrate the opening of the school in January. Four main dances were choreographed to reflect a theme: GROUNDBREAKING and preparing earth; BUILDING, which incorporates lifting, carrying and pulling; CONSTRUCTION RAP, which was performed in a rap/hip-hop style; and RIBBON CUTTING, which had a Celtic feel. Each dance abstracted different ideas into expressive artistic form and was stylistically diverse to set them apart and create an appealing whole. All 500 children presented their work publicly in two evening performances for the community on April 27, 2000. It was a sight to behold!

The WAHPERD (Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) organization has asked Karen to present in the summer 2001 on her residency work. The magnitude and original design of her residencies is a great resource to educators. Her process involves teaching educators to use movement and a creative methodology in the classroom. She presents regularly for WAHPERD and for continuing education/teacher education programs, on using movement as a tool to teach across the curriculum. October 2000 Karen addressed the Multi-District In-service (Cambridge, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Marshall, &Waterloo) Fine Arts and Physical Education Educators on evaluating the arts.

Karen designed and directed the Dance Program’s Summer Dance Camp “ Dance Millennium”. The camp is entering its fourth year after not having a camp in well over two decades. “Dance Millennium”is a weeklong intense resident camp designed for Dance students seeking professional training. This year’s camp offered daily Ballet, Modern, Puerto Rican, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater, Asian American and Jazz technique classes culminating in a closing performance. The camp was a huge success and has received press in Dance Spirit Magazine. It was given an Award of Merit for a Non-Credit Program in 2001 from the North American Association of Summer Sessions. Karen is currently planning next year’s summer camp.

Within the Dance Program Karen regularly teaches Creative Dance for Children, Dance for Physical Education Majors, Modern technique, and Ballroom in addition to her role as Outreach Coordinator for the department. Karen often brings children to Lathrop Hall to work interactively with her classes, offering lab opportunities for the education majors and collaborative partners for other college students. Some of the guests attend our concerts, while others observe classes and tour the facilities. Her work has created ongoing interaction with several schools in the area. Karen places students and faculty in the community Karen recently designed a new course to be taken by all Elementary Education Majors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with the Department of Kinesiology to insure they are exposed to Dance Education as part of their teacher training. Outside the program Karen teaches Jazz for Jazzworks Dance School.