VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Danielle Daniel uses the art of storytelling and creative drama as tools to help students build reading and critical thinking skills, enhance writing, stimulate creativity and imagination, and to teach character education. In addition to 17 years of classroom experience, Danielle is also an international performer, arts educator and author of the children's book The Ghost of Old Man Willie. She is a recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board and Jerome Fellowship, and is currently training in The Kennedy Performing Arts Center's Artists as Educators program.

Workshop Description
In a creative writing workshop, students will write poems, speeches, or letters to Dr. King, using Billy Taylor's Peaceful Warrior as inspiration. Students will discuss what makes a hero, things they are proud of and the things they can do for peace and justice.

Teachers may choose instead to do a drama workshop, which will include choral readings of Standing Tall by Jamie McKenzie, excerpts from Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" Speech and Billy Taylor's Peaceful Warrior. Working in groups, students will create skits and frozen pictures (tableaus) as they dramatize the selections. All of Danielle's workshops include a combination of storytelling, creative movement, music and drama/improvisation to teach students about Dr. King's principles of nonviolence. In addition to singing, students will hear short stories and discuss how they can apply Dr. King's principles of nonviolence in their own lives.

To Prepare Your Students
Listen to Peaceful Warrior (tracks 6, 7 and 8 on the WITNESS Companion CD) and become familiar with historical information and/or facts about Dr. King by reading the material on pages 23-28 or 30-35 of the WITNESS Teacher's Guide.

Please Note
Teachers choosing to host a drama workshop will need to have students move desks to create a space for movement.