Free Public School Workshops and Lecture Demonstrations
In collaboration with Brooklyn and New York City public schools, Marie-Christine Giordano Dance (MCGD) offers movement workshops and lecture demonstrations that introduce students to dance as an embodied practice that integrates physical awareness, expression, and creative inquiry. Programs are led by teaching artists and company members specialized in dance education and trained in MCGD’s approach to movement, grounded in alignment, coordination, and sensory perception.
Rooted in this approach, these programs are based on the belief that dance is an essential means of expression that fosters connection, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the body in motion. Through guided movement experiences and discussion, students are invited to explore alignment, breath, coordination, and the relationship between movement and inner experience. The work emphasizes attention, presence, and the development of both individual expression and group connection.
Workshops: Active Participation
Workshops are designed as interactive sessions in which students engage directly in movement. Each session is adapted to the age group and school environment.
A typical workshop includes:
Exercises that support healthy alignment of the spine and joints, coordination, and strengthening
Exploration of space, direction, rhythm, and dynamics through guided movement sequences
Creative improvisation, allowing students to respond to images, music, and physical sensations
Development of awareness, focus, and connection to others in the group
These sessions encourage students to experience movement as a form of mindful physical activity, supporting creativity, confidence, and non-verbal communication. The structure allows each student to participate at their own level while being part of a shared group experience.
Lecture Demonstrations: Context and Performance
Lecture demonstrations are offered as 60-minute assemblies and provide an introduction to MCGD’s work and artistic process.
Each session includes:
Introduction to the company and its approach to movement
A performance excerpt from MCGD repertoire
A guided discussion and Q&A with students
Through this format, students are introduced to contemporary dance, abstract movement, and the creative process, gaining insight into how movement can communicate ideas and emotions beyond language.This program aims at fusing together the company’s professional excellence with dance education that provides life-changing impacts on youth. Each presentation supports MCGD's educational values and the belief that active participation in the arts can fuel creativity, confidence, problem solving, perseverance, focus, non-verbal communication, connection to a group, and dedication.
Educational Approach and Impact
MCGD’s educational programs build on nearly two decades of experience in New York City public schools, including a long-running after-school program in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Across all formats, the work supports the development of creativity, focus, problem-solving, and collaboration.
By combining professional artistic practice with accessible, student-centered engagement, MCGD aims to provide meaningful arts experiences that are both physically engaging and personally resonant. Programs are designed to be inclusive and adaptable, reaching students across diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and fostering connection beyond language through movement.
This program is supported in part by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
FY 2025
February 5, 2025, 10:15 AM Location: The Brooklyn Brownstone School (Title 1), Bedford-Stuyvesant
February 6, 2025, 10:15 AM Location: The Brooklyn Brownstone School (Title 1), Bedford-Stuyvesant
March 19, 2025, 12:40 PM Location:: PS 93, The Magnet School of S.T.E.A.M.
March 27, 2025, 12:40 PM Location:: PS 93, The Magnet School of S.T.E.A.M.
April 3, 2025, 12:40 PM Location:: PS 93, The Magnet School of S.T.E.A.M.
April 10 2025, 12:40 PM Location:: PS 93, The Magnet School of S.T.E.A.M.
FY2024
March 14, 2024 Location: PS 115, 1500 East 92nd Street, Brooklyn, 11236
March 21, 2024 Location: PS 230 Doris L. Cohen 1 Albemarle Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218, 10:00AM
March 21, 2024 Location: PS 230 Doris L. Cohen 12:45 PM
March 28, 2024 Location: PS/IS 308 Clara Cardwell School, Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn,
April 3, 2024 Location: PS 399 Stanley Eugene Clark, 2707 Albemarle Road Brooklyn
April 4, 2024 Location: PS 86 Bushwick Magnet Multimedia and Arts Academy 10:45AM 2nd grade
April 4, 2024 Location: PS 86 Bushwick Magnet Multimedia and Arts Academy 12:35PM 1st grade
April 11, 2024, Location: The Brooklyn Brownstone School (Title 1), Bedford-Suyvesant
April 18, 2024, Location: The Brooklyn Brownstone School, Bed-Stuy
FY2023
February 2, 2023 at 1:05PM Location: PS 86, The Irvington School, Brooklyn, 1st grade
February 2, 2023 at 2:00PM Location: PS 86, The Irvington School, Brooklyn, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
February 9, 2023, at 1PM Location: PS/IS 206, Brooklyn, 5th grade
February 9, 2023 at 2PM Location: PS/IS 206, Brooklyn, 6th grade
March 2, 2023 at 9:30AM Location: PS 222, 3301 Quentin Rd, Brooklyn, 3rd and 4th grade
March 2, 2023 at 10:30AM Location: PS 222, 5th grade
May 10, 2023 at 10:00AM Location: PS 208, 4801 Ave D, Brooklyn, NY 11203
May 11, 2023 at 9:30AM Location: PS 257, John F. Hylan, 60 Cook Street, Brooklyn, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
May 18, 2023 at noon Location: W A Cunningham Jr High School, 1875 E 17th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11229
FY2022
Dec 2021 to June 25, 2022. 12 virtual events in collaboration with various Brooklyn and NYC Public Schools.December 17, 2021 at 9:50AM Location: PS 86, The Irvington School, Brooklyn
February 10, 2022 at 11:25AM Location: The Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn, 8th grade
February 11, 2022 at 11:25AM Location: The Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn, 9th grade
February 25, 2022 at 1PM Location: PS 142, Lower East Side
March 3rd, 2022 at 9:00AM Location: PS 206 Joseph F. Lamb, Brooklyn, 5th grade
March 4th, 2022 at 9:00AM Location: PS 206 Joseph F. Lamb, Brooklyn, 5th grade second group.
March 28, 2022 at 9:00AM Location: PS 165 Brownsville, Brooklyn
April 13, 2022 at 9:00AM Location: PS 165 Brownsville, Brooklyn, second group
June 2, 2022 at 9:35AM Location: PS 194, Brooklyn, 3rd grade
June 2, 2022 at 10:25AM Location: PS 194, Brooklyn, 3rd grade, second group
FY2021
January 2021 to June 25, 2021. Ten virtual events in collaboration with various Brooklyn and NYC Public Schools.February 19, 2021 at 1PM in collaboration with EA, the Educational Alliance. Remote event for PS 142 and PS140 (Holiday camp).
February 24, 2021 at 3PM Location: PS 24, Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
March 24, 2021 at noon Location: PS 25 the Blake Eubie School, Brooklyn.
March, 31, 2021 at 1PM in collaboration with EA, the Educational Alliance.
April 16, 2021 at 10:00AM for The Young Women’s Leadership School, Bushwick
May 5, 2021 at 12:45PM for PSIS 109, Brooklyn
May 12, 2021 at 1PM for PS 222, Brooklyn
May 19, 2021 for PS 31, Greenpoint
May 26, 2021 at 10AM, for Public School 345, Brooklyn
June 10, 2021 at 11:30AM for PS 86, Brooklyn
This Program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council
FY 2020
November 12, 2019 at 12:45PM. Location: P. S. 24, Sunset Park, Brooklyn
December 5, 2019 at 3PM. Location: P. S. 64, 600 East 6th Street, Lower East Side
January 23, 2020 at 12:45PM. Location: P. S. 153, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
February 13, 2020 at 12:30PM. Location: P. S. 25, Eubie Blake School, Brooklyn
March 13, 2020 at 4PM. Location: P. S. 142, Lower East Side
This Program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council
FY 2019
December 21, 2018 at 3PM. Location: P. S. 142 Amalia Castro School, Lower East Side
January 24, 2019 at 1:20PM. Location: P. S. 221 Toussaint L'Ouverture is a NYC District school located at 791 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11213. It serves Grades: PK,0K,01,02,03,04,05,SE.
March 12, 2019, 12:30PM to 1:30PM. Location: Madiba Prep Middle School, 1014 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY11221
April 16, 2019, 9:30AM to 10:30AM. Location: P. S. 133, Brooklyn
May 1, 2019, Workshop grade 3 and 4, 3:00PM to 5:00PM, Location: P. S. 142 Amalia Castro School, Lower East Side
May 3, 2019, 2:40PM to 3:40PM. Location: P. S. 64, 600 East 6th Street, NY 10009
May 30, 2019, 12:30 to 1:30PM. Location: P. S. 25, Eubie Blake School, District 16
June 5, 2019, 4PM to 5PM. Location: P. S. 140, The Nathan Straus Preparatory School, 123 Ridge Street, Manhattan NY10002
June 17, 2019, Workshop,grade 4th and 5th, 10:00AM to 11:00AM Location: P. S. 25, Eubie Blake School, District 16
This Program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council
FY 2018
P.S. 142 in Lower Manhattan, December 15, 2017 at 4PM. Madiba Prep Middle School, 1014 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, December 19, 2017
Winter/Spring 2017
P.S. 142 in Lower Manhattan, February 17, 2017. M.S. 442 in Brooklyn, March 22, 2017. M.S. 57 in Brooklyn, April 25, 2017. P.S. 133 in Brooklyn, May 5, 2017 (2nd - 5th graders). P.S. 133 in Brooklyn, May 5 2017 (Kindergarten- 1st grade
