The third segment of Springwater's fall Artist-in-Residence program features dance instructor Amanda Parson, who is helping River Otter students express themselves through the energy of hip-hop.  Amanda has been studying hip-hop and many other forms of modern and classical dance for 25 years, and has been teaching tap, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop for about a decade.  Amanda also performs in Portland as a member of the Kinetic Images Modern Dance Company in Portland.  

At Springwater, Amanda has been helping 6^th and 7^thgraders master the basic techniques and principles of hip-hop dancing. Although recognizing the overall environmental focus at Springwater, Amanda's lessons also reflect her belief that dance is foremost a "statement of expression using the body and the technique and the form to fulfill the spirit of movement."  She explains further that "dance really has no emphasis nor does it complete an agenda.  One does not go to a dance presentation to gain a message. Instead, we dance and are spectators of dance to do nothing more than appreciate the art of movement as an expression of passion."  Her primary goal as an instructor is to both teach technique as well as to share her love of dance. 

In addition to aiming for the students to have fun, Amanda also wants them to commit themselves to learning a performance.  To that end, the participating River Otters are working hard on a routine to the Black Eyed Peas' song "Boom Boom Pow" that they will debut prior to Thanksgiving break.  By all accounts, the students are responding enthusiastically to Amanda's passion and energy.  "I enjoy hip-hop," noted 7th grader Dallas Lee, "because we get to dance and be ourselves."