Dallas Children’s Theater hosts educational symposium focusing on creative process and learning differences

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — “An idea is a space wherein lies the awakening of your own creative self,” once said the distinguished Dr. Paul Baker, renowned theater director and Baylor University professor honored last year by the founding of the Baker Idea Institute (BII) — a collaboration of leading individuals from the education, arts, and business sectors to discuss and explore the value of “creative ideas” and their application to real-life scenarios.

For the second year, The Baker Idea Institute announces a Fall workshop followed by Winter and Spring Symposia planned to draw upon Baker’s acclaimed multi-sensory teaching techniques in providing the tools to spark creative ideas. This year’s topics are inspired by the development of a new play by award winning playwrights Mary Rohde Scudday and Linda Daugherty called hard to spel dad, which illuminates the difficult and often misunderstood world of dyslexia by following the lives of two young people and their paths to self-acceptance.

Fall workshop

BII director/executive artistic director of Dallas Children’s Theater, Robyn Flatt; and Andy Long, BII associate director/DCT artist-in-residence and master teacher; will lead the October 23 interactive workshop “Curtains Up on Curriculum,” aimed at introducing dramatic strategies for teaching core curriculum in the classroom. This hands-on three hour session will provide teachers and parents with invaluable multi-sensory strategies which will guide students of all ages in the discovery of their own innate abilities and individuality.

Winter symposium

Topics for the December 4 and 5 symposium address creative solutions for teachers, artists, parents, and teens, and also explores the development of a new play incorporating educational components for parents and students struggling with learning differences. Workshops focus on innovative methods to support learning through multi-sensory strategies. Dialogues with key practitioners from Integrative Pediatric Therapy, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, SMU Learning Therapy Center, and istation Technology occur throughout the weekend. John Paul Batiste, former director of the Texas Commission on the Arts, will provide the keynote address: “Why Creative Solutions Matter.”

Spring symposium

Completing the second Baker Idea Institute series is a spring symposium April 23 and 24, 2010. The Friday evening event includes a special performance of hard to spel dad and post-show dialogue, followed by a dessert reception with the playwrights, performers, and dialogue facilitators. Saturday interactive workshops include discussion of learning differences from the parent’s point of view, and feature professionals from UT Arlington, The Shelton School, Richland College, and SMU Learning Therapy Center. Sherry Kafka Wagner, international urban planner and BII premiere symposium speaker, returns.

All events are being held at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts, home of Dallas Children’s Theater. The interactive workshop is from 1-4 p.m. October 23. Tickets are $30. Winter Symposium is from 6:30-9:30 p.m. December 4, and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. December 5. Spring Symposium is from 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 23 and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 24. Tickets are $75 each for the Winter and Spring Symposia and include Friday night dessert receptions and Saturday lunches and periodic refreshments. For ticket information, call 214-978-0110.

Source: Dallas Children's Theater