Maker educator Paula Mitchell chats with dance teaching artists Alisa Rasera and Heather Stockton about the inclusive and community-based dance program they helped develop at Grass Valley Elementary. More conversations about dance at Grass Valley to come! Recorded January 27, 2022.
Since recording this episode Grass Valley’s closure has been halted by the Oakland school board. Read more here.
transcription coming soon
With guests:
Alisa began her dance career in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1996. Through the decades, she has had many rich experiences as a dance artist, educator, choreographer and professional learning leader. For 8 years she was a member and Education Director of Physically Integrated, AXIS Dance Company. She was a teaching artist and Professional Learning Manager with Luna Dance Institute for 7 years, leading inquiry-based learning on making dance more accessible and inclusive, and is a Luna Summer Institute alum. Currently she is designing professional development curriculum for dance educators around access and inclusion. She produces her own repertory of choreography. Alisa is an Audio Describer with Gravity Access and believes dance belongs to everyone and tries to convey that through her work.
Paula is a 20+ year veteran Oakland public school teacher who has been crafting, designing and making since she was a little girl. As a Teacher on Special Assignment (TSA) for Project Based Learning/Maker Education at Grass Valley Elementary she is able to bring more hands-on, minds-on learning to the community she loves through their MakerSpace program, which she developed. Paula is Co-Director of Agency by Design Oakland. and a Luna Summer Institute alum ’12.
