Arts Are Core Conference 2020

"Bridging Differences" 

Utah State University's Arts Are Core sent BTSALP arts specialists, classroom teachers, administrators and pre-service teachers “back to school” with arts integration strategies and lesson ideas to reach every learner, face to face and virtually. Arts Are Core: Bridging Differences held on July 30th, 2020 provided a full day of online arts-integration professional development and networking opportunities for educators.

Online Conference

Educators participated in an online conference experience with interactive arts integration workshops in visual art, dance, music, and drama. Through teacher-created workshops, engaging presentations and social media networking opportunities,  educators explored the quality characteristics of online learning,  arts integration, and culturally responsive teaching. Participants chatted with presenters and fellow educators throughout the conference and during live Q&A sessions. They walked away with dynamic lesson plans, access to on-demand workshop recordings and downloadable resources to kick off the upcoming school year!  

Keynote Speaker 

Angela Rosales Challis is a Dance Educator and a Filmmaker, originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia. She graduated from BYUwith a B.A. in Dance Education. At BYU, she received Outstanding Graduating Senior, Outstanding Research, Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Department, and Outstanding Choreography awards. She was a BTSALP dance specialist in the elementary schools for several years. In 2014, she received the Utah Art Educator of the Year Award, and in 2015 she received the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence in Arts Education. She graduated from the University of Utah with an MFA in Film and Media Arts and earned a certificate in Screendance. Her films have screened all over the U.S. as well as in Argentina, Bolivia, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Mexico, Chile, and Ireland. Her films have won awards from Audience Choice Award, 2ndPlace, and Best of Fest. In 2019, she received the Best Cinematography Award at the Utah Film Awards. Currently, she teaches Film at Salt Lake Community College as well as Dance for the Elementary Classroom, a methodology course for elementary education majors at UVU and BYU. She also co-directs the Kinnect Dance Company at BYU. Angela has two passions: dance education and film. She strongly believes in the power of the arts.