For a staff retreat day at work last week, we had different staff people give short talks about something that they are passionate about that in some ways relates to our work as science educators. I decided to give a talk on "social dancing and embodied learning" since dance is such a big part of…
“That’s It” Combines NOLA Jazz, Tap, and Hip-hop Dance Beautifully (video)
Here's some slick house dance, popping, breaking and tap to the new song by the inimitable Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The track is "That's It." That is it, indeed! Video link, in case the embed doesn't work.
What Is Lindy Hop? (video)
A couple of months ago, I asked lindy hop friends where I could find a concise, accurate and entertaining video defining what "Lindy Hop" is. No one could suggest a video that met that criteria, so we decided to make one. Here is "What is Lindy Hop" by Yehoodi productions. We hope you like it….
My First Makey Makey Project: a Play-doh Drum Pad
I made this silly drum pad using a Makey Makey controller, some wires, and play-doh. It took two minutes. So much fun making different kinds of controllers and buttons from play-doh, coins, fruit, hands, even pencil lines! I predict that Makey Makey is going to be an awesome tool to use with our youth…
Why We Broadcast ILHC in One Picture
Q: What did you do this weekend? A: We produced over three days a 15-hour live broadcast production, bringing an international dance competition to hundreds and hundreds of lindy hoppers around the world, from Tel Aviv to Minsk. More details here. More pictures here.
Watch the live broadcast of a dance competition I’m producing this weekend in DC!
I wanted you alls to know that this weekend I will be producing and co-hosting a live video broadcast of the "International Lindy Hop Championships" in Washington DC. Starting on Friday night and finishing on Sunday night, my broadcast team will be streaming live to the internet this global dance competition for the world to see. I'm…
Retreating with the Cal Academy of Sciences’ Youth Programs Team
Wednesday and Thursday I got to spend much needed retreat time with the youth programs team at the California Academy of Sciences. We met up at the beautiful Pepperwood Preserve up in the Trinity Alps region, just a couple of hours north of San Francisco. The evening was spent recreating and bonding with my…
Youth-created Science Video: The League of Extraordinary Marine Animals!
I was blown away by the all videos created by our "Science in Action" teen science filmmakers this Summer. But as a comic geek, this one was particularly close to my heart: "The League of Extraordinary Marine Animals." Created by Arun, Sofia, Juliet and Brandon. Enjoy and share! Superheroes of the world, unite! Related Links:…
1000+ Teens Take Over the California Academy of Sciences!
Image by C. Wilkinson This Friday, we opened up our doors for our very first "Teen Science Night" at the California Academy of Sciences. Over 1000 teens from across the Bay Area converged on the Academy to learn about science, present their own projects to each other, socialize, and dance in our museum. This…
“First Position”: Amazing Documentary about Six Young Ballerinas
Confession: I am not a ballet fan. I find ballet physically impressive and aesthetically pleasing. But I'm not really moved when I watch most ballet performances. Months ago, for some unknown reason, I put "First Position", a documentary about a ballet competition, in my Netflix cue, and then didn't touch it. Finally this weekend — after…