'Dansspetters: A Timeless Source of Inspiration for Dance and Music' for children between 6 and 9 years old with Maria Speth

This workshop will be given in Dutch

Dansspetters is an impressive collection of dances and accompanying music, specially designed for children and young people aged 4 to 18. Each dance has its own background and theme, which align with the living and experience world of the target group. The playful element and the space for personal improvisation are central, making the dances not only educational but also fun and stimulating.

With its dance ideas and musical suggestions, Dansspetters aims to be a source of inspiration for further development. The work consists of four books, with accompanying music pieces and detailed dance lesson ideas. These materials are now twenty years old but are still used in many dance schools. The music is on laptops, the booklets are in the cupboards, and the dances are part of the repertoire. This is thanks to the timeless quality of Maria Speth’s work, which is rooted in practice and refined over the years. After numerous trials and reviews, the dances and ideas have been ‘canned’ and remain valuable.

Maria Speth, the creator of Dansspetters, will elaborate on some of her ideas. During an active dance workshop, you not only gain insight into the logic and objectives behind her work but also experience how these dances can be applied in practice. It is a unique opportunity to learn from her rich experience and further develop your own dance skills. This workshop specifically focuses on teaching children between 6 and 9 years old.

Why take part in this workshop according to programmer Anne-Lore?

I am convinced that we can learn a great deal from an older generation of dance teachers. Especially if we then reinterpret their expertise for the new zeitgeist. Many concepts found in Maria’s publications provide answers to questions that young dance teachers have today, such as: “how can I work with a class?”, “how can I create a dance performance in 8 lessons?”, “how can I work with a group of very diverse children?”,…. A work that combines both structure and improvisation is quite unique.

Who is Maria Speth?

Since the late 1980s, I have worked professionally at both the Maastricht Conservatory and the Fontys Dance Academy in Tilburg. Additionally, I frequently contribute as a freelance professional to dance academies, conservatories, pedagogical institutes, and the amateur dance field both domestically and internationally. I also occasionally publish in various professional journals. Dance education is central to my work, with dance projects in both primary and secondary education playing an essential role.

My work has brought me into contact with many cultures, not only geographically but also through working with diverse groups; integrating music and dance; or approaching from different perspectives. This keeps my curiosity alive, driving my work to innovate, explore new paths, and embrace challenges. Dance is continuously the medium through which you meet others on physical, cognitive, socio-cultural, and emotional levels.

This journey has led me over the years to develop the Dansspetters Collection. These dance ideas and musical suggestions are primarily an inspiration to grow further. Now I want to bring all of this together and share the results of my work over the years with anyone interested in dance and the creative process. I hope this can contribute to the value of dance worldwide. Dance moves me!