The dance of resilience: a narrative exploration of community connection
Abstract
Poverty is affecting student learning and social development every day. Creating
social emotional learning environments for learners can foster the development of
resilient behaviours in vulnerable youth. This study explores students who have
developed resilient behaviours as a result of their connection to a dance community
within their school. The purpose of this narrative study was to determine powerful
contributors that led to the transformation of student behavior within this community.
Twelve students within this community, as well as their principal, were interviewed and
three students’ stories were chosen to be presented in narrative form. Employing coethnographic
and auto-ethnographic methodologies three students’ stories were woven
together with the personal story of the researcher. The results of this study illustrated the
importance of fostering social emotional learning environments so that vulnerable
students can find success. In particular, the development of a healthy relationship with an
adult was a key factor in allowing students’ resilience to develop. Teachers need to be
educated in the area of social emotional learning so they can better their practice and
enhance student achievement for vulnerable learners.