Welcome to the “Dancing for Joy” Arts Integration Guide

This guide is designed to enrich the experience of “Dancing for Joy” by The Myth Makers, a public art installation that invites learners of all ages to explore its layers of meaning. Through this guide, educators and students are encouraged to engage deeply with the installation—observing its artistic elements, discovering the flora and fauna that inspired it, and reflecting on its personal and collective significance.

The materials provided here aim to assist educators and learners in decoding the installation and connecting it to broader curricular goals. By incorporating activities and exercises that promote engagement before and after visiting the site, this guide transforms the installation into a dynamic learning tool. These activities foster critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity, enhancing not only students’ understanding of this specific artwork but also their appreciation of arts and culture in public spaces as lifelong learners.

Public art installations like “Dancing for Joy” offer a unique opportunity to bring the Maine Department of Education’s vision for visual and performing arts education to life. Aligned with the Maine Learning Results: Visual and Performing Arts Standards, this guide helps educators integrate the installation into their curriculum, creating meaningful connections between the arts and the world around us.

This guide was developed through a collaborative effort led by TEMPOart and teaching artists Jessica Muise, Heather Livingstone, and Victoria Gordon.

We hope this guide inspires you and your students to explore, question, and celebrate the transformative power of public art.