About This Artist
About this Artist
Pronouns: she/her
Christine Galante is a professional multi-disciplinary performer and teaching artist specializing in theatre, music, dance, puppetry, and storytelling through crankies. With a unique and versatile background in musical theatre and multicultural percussive dance, Christine has graced theatre stages, theme parks, and has toured extensively throughout North America and the UK. Her 22-year tenure with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble showcased her youth-honed skills in folk, social, and percussive dance traditions. A co-founder of RC Dance Discovery, she created literature-based programming through music and movement for DC/VA/MD under Artivate. Christine was a featured dancer in the dance-for-camera production, Carry it on…, directed by Rhythm in Shoes founder, Sharon Leahy, and she is a frequent foot percussionist with award-winning Canadian band, The Duhks. Her teaching artistry led her to the arts-based Lucy School in Maryland where she served for 7 years as music and movement specialist and integrator for PreK-8 students. She continues to share her joy with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, LBK & Co, Arts for Learning Maryland, and through her own Every Note Music Studio. Christine holds a BA in Theatre and Arts Administration and is currently pursuing her MA.
Christine is a Maryland Wolf Trap Early Childhood teaching artist. Learn more about our Early Childhood programs.
Artist Statement
My teaching philosophy stems from the belief that all humans have the innate ability to create and enjoy the arts. We all connect to the world and each other through our senses and perceptions, and the arts allows us to explore our creativity and apply it in innovative ways. As a Teaching Artist, my first goal is to build relationships with classroom teachers and students – with the additional message being that “student” and “teacher” are not mutually exclusive. Collaboration and communication provide the basis for a trusting back-and-forth allowing the classroom to flow between teacher/artist-led instruction and student-led exploration and inquisitive idea sharing. Creativity and imagination are highly encouraged in the arts integrated classrooms. Our imaginations come alive, and we become more inquisitive and attentive to the world around us through the use of the arts in learning. Such joy!
Testimonials
"I recently sat in on one of Christine’s sessions and WOW! It was a master class in the art and craft of integrating the performing arts into early childhood education. With warmth and creativity, she expertly guided an energetic flock of very young children through a singing and dancing exploration of a picture book. Christine’s lesson was seamlessly composed, keeping everyone fully engaged, actively listening and loving every minute. What a joy!"
Valerie Carroll, Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist
"My students looked forward to Christine coming every day. She always brought something new and exciting to share with the students. Christine was always upbeat and happy and kept the students engaged through song, puppetry, and dance. As a teacher, she taught me how to utilize songs for transitions and how to keep the students engaged with movement. With my classroom being primarily English Language Learners, the pace at which she presented the lessons were on point and the vocabulary she used was perfect for my learners. I felt like I learned a lot from her and have incorporated some of her strategies into my classroom. We really appreciated the time and grew as a classroom community thanks to Christine and Wolf Trap."
Lora Webber, Rolling Ridge Elementary School, STEP Preschool
