Dance, Education, Choreography, and Cooking
Listen to the podcast with the powerful Lydia Smith–Lenardson, where she discusses the inspiration for her choreography. Her bout with cancer left her paralyzed from the waist down. If that was not challenging enough, she now faces obstacles navigating the health care system and getting support to help her with daily chores.
I want to make something quick, easy, and healthy when I come from work. Most teachers can tell you that it is difficult to find time to eat during the school day. Yes, as a teacher, I only get 15 minutes for recess and 30 minutes for lunch. Sometimes, teachers give up their recess and lunch to help students.
Students, teachers, and the community deserve better. It is time to work smarter and draw from our teacher practitioners' passions. For example, if you have a degree in media arts, with video as a major, maybe we must have you teach it. Place teachers into teaching slots who have a passion for the subjects they teach. Can you imagine the creativity?
Conversations for stories of practice on movement, mindfulness, the creative process, and social justice happen around creating meals. As I slice, chop, and prepare a meal, thoughts for the next podcast and blog sometimes come while spicing and marinating dishes. As an educator and choreographer, the creative process for me begins to stir in the kitchen. Welcome to the podcast "What Stirs" I am your host, Dr. Desiree Cremer, the Cooking Choreographer.
Marianne Cooper grew up in Sweden; she recalls sitting around the fire with every family member doing something with their hands. Her mother was knitting, her dad creating or inventing something. And she and her sisters are doing art. Exposed to art from a young age, Cooper shares that growing up in Sweden was like “growing up in a Waldorf school, with lots of arts and crafts.”
Paprika chicken is a hearty meal that is quick and easy to make, especially when you need some spice in your life. Cooking in my social justice kitchen is all about the conversations and possibly outrages regarding the days and or life events. Preparing the Paprika chicken meal comes with a flow sequence, a series of steps. I thought of the flavorful conversations on my podcast, “What Stirs,” with the generous, inspiring guests. There are many ways to make Paprika Chicken; this is my version.
During the pandemic when most schools were in distance learning, I talked with Dr. Erin Thompson for my podcast, What Stirs, Thompson shared her thoughts and principles on the pandemic and education.
I had a fascinating conversation with Dr. Theresa (Terry) Lock on my podcast, What Stirs. Dr. Lock discusses the importance of play in early childhood and elementary school education. She states that children learn through play, and it is a component of how children learn.
The students are back at school as if there is no pandemic. There is no social distancing and no safety. Just because educational leaders say the schools are safe does not necessarily make it so.
Masala chicken is a quick and easy meal that gives just that tangy kick in the week. After teaching all day, I want something thing that reminds me of home in Cape Town. So I go to my version of masala chicken. As I prepared this dish in my social justice kitchen, I thought about what makes an educational leader? What are the challenges? A spicy meal for a spicy topic, my next blog.
Cooking Choreographer 