PODCAST: State of education in the Walker Era: Part Four

Christina Ratatori, founder of dance education group, ta.da (teaching. arts. dance. academics), talks about the benefits of arts in education.

Christina Ratatori and Chicago Public Schools students during a “wiggle break.” (Photos: Susan Carle, South Shore Fine Arts Academy)

It was just over one year ago when Gov. Walker’s proposal to cut funding for public education and eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees was met with staunch opposition at the Capitol square in Madison inciting a fiery debate, one that remains at the forefront of political discourse here in the great state of Wisconsin.

Studies have shown time and time again that having the arts as an element of a child’s education does wonders for their ability to learn. Christina Ratatori, founder and director of ta.da (teaching. arts. dance. academics), knows this, and is working to bring dance into schools in a new and innovative way.

Christina’s vision with ta.da is based on research that movement is brain food, and that children learn better when they get up and move around during the course of the day. The wonderful thing about dance is that it incorporates both arts education and physical education and it gives kids a chance not only to move around and express themselves, but learn new things by connecting information with movement, and having the occasional “wiggle break.” Couldn’t we all use a wiggle break once in a while?

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Listen now: 
[audio:https://urbanmilwaukeedial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/TCDPodcastMarkMetcalfChristinaRatatoritada.mp3|titles=TCDPodcastMarkMetcalfChristinaRatatoritada]

 

Click here to listen and download for free: “Backstage with Mark Metcalf” – Christina Ratatori, ta.da – LLC teaching. arts. dance. academics

Subscribe to these podcasts through iTunes here.

For more information on ta.da, visit tada-llc.com, and follow ta.da on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here for Part One of the series, with Tom Beebe of Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, and here for Part Two with Fox Point-Bayside teacher and chief negotiator Mark Conforti, and here for Part Three, with Jasmine Alinder of I Love My Public School.

This is Christina Ratatori’s second time on “Backstage with Mark Metcalf,” click here to listen to her conversation from March 2011.

“Backstage with Mark Metcalf” is recorded at the ThirdCoast Digest office in the Shops of Grand Avenue.