Remembering Maurice Sendak

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I first met Gigi Arrington in 1997 when I was teaching at her daughters' elementary school in Salt Lake City. Gigi has been the Educator Director for the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company for many years. That year, she created a dance with her daughter's third grade class based on the story of Sadako and the thousand paper cranes. I believe it was based on the book Sadako by Eleanor Coerr and Ed Young. Fourteen years later, this dance sticks with me – its story and the beauty and elegance of seeing young people dance this tale.

I invited Gigi to write a post here on books in her dance classes over the years:

I've used many books in my 34 years of teaching dance to children. My teaching mentor was Dee Winterton who was a master of inspiring children to move.  I watched him teach two books — Giant John and Where the Wild Things Are and those experiences helped set my own teaching philosophy.Where the Wild Things Are is my favorite children's book to use in teaching. I learned something quickly when using books to teach dance; just because it says "dance" in the title doesn't mean it is a good book to use to teach dance. Dee taught me to look for a book with movement potential —words that generate and inspire children to explore with their bodies. I love challenging children to show me what "mischief" looks like in their eyes, their fingers, their elbows, their knees. How does mischief move? Max goes through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost a year–great space words for children to experience through movement. And who wouldn't want to roar and gnash and roll? And finally–THE WILD RUMPUS!! The pictures for the rumpus are the inspiration; not a word is needed. I love this book. I think it is important for children to know that being "wild" is part of growing up; and that you are still loved after you make mistakes . . . "he found his supper waiting for him  and it was still hot!"