Heather Francis
Researcher and
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
Education and Experience
Wayne State University
Heather received an MA in Teaching Artistry in April 2020. Her thesis project was titled, "A Qualitative Study of the Aesthetic Perceptions of In-Service Elementary School Teachers".
Brigham Young University
Heather received a BA in Dance Education with a minor in Math Education in April 2013. She graduated as valedictorian of the BYU Dance Department.
BYU
ARTS Partnership
Heather began working at the BYU ARTS Partnership in 2017. She is the Research and Development Coordinator and Arts Bridge Director.
Granite Park Jr.
High
Heather directed the dance program and developed a dance-integrated math curriculum for 8th-grade students from 2013-2017.
BYU Dance Department
Heather was the Artistic Co-Director of the educational outreach dance company, BYU Kinnect, from 2017-2020. She also taught Creative Dance for the ELementary Classroom to elementary and dance education majors.
DESIGNING INSTRUCTION, DANCING PATTERNS
The question I get asked the most is "How do you teach math with dance?" In short, I identify the mathematical patterns I want my students to experience, then find ways to replicate those patterns in a physical experience. From my perspective, all learning is a product of identifying, replicating, revising, applying and transferring patterns across various disciplines.
Community Involvement
Presentations & Publications
Reflections on a dance-integrated 8th grade math class.
Provo, UT - November 2017
Presentation at the Learning Edge Conference for Administrators and Teachers.
Moving Mathematics
Weber State University - November 2017
Presentation at the Utah Dance Education Organization Fall Conference.
8th Grade Dance Math Class
Washington D.C. - October 2016
Poster presentation at National Dance Education Organization Conference 2016
"The Beauty is in Me"
Deseret Book - April 2014
Published essay in the book, "Why I Don't Hide My Freckles Anymore"
"Azonto: Contemporary Ghanaian Dance with Creative Process Potential"
Los Angeles, CA - October 2012
Presentation at National Dance Education Organization Conference 2012
"Studying the Spiritual in Ghanaian Dance"
Provo, Utah - February 2012
Presentation at BYU International Inquiry Conference
"Spirituality in Ghanaian Dance"
Harold B. Lee Library, Provo, UT - April 2012
Field Research Project Archived in the Wilson Folklore Archives
"Skills for the 21st Century Dance Educator"
Tempe, AZ - October 2010
Presentation at the National Dance Education Organization Conference 2010
"SDEO Blueprint"
Tempe, AZ - October 2010
Co-presented at National Dance Education Organization Conference 2010
"Mentoring in Dance"
Tempe, AZ - October 2010
Co-presented at National Dance Education Organization Conference 2010
"Classroom Kinnections"
Kingston, Jamaica - August 2009
Performance and Presentation at dance and the Child international (daCi) Gathering
Grants and Awards
• Utah Division of Arts and Museums Arts Learning Grant (2017)
• Salt Lake Arts Council Grant (2017)
• Granite School District “High Student Academic Growth” Award for 8th Grade Math (2017)
• First place winner of the Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt Creative Classrooms Contest (2016)
• Utah Division of Arts and Museum Arts Project A Grant (2015, 2016)
• Salt Lake City Arts Council Mini Grant (2015)
• Utah State Office of Education T.H. Bell Scholarship (2008-2012)
• William A. & Hannele B. Wilson Folklore Collecting Prize (2012)
• Sara Lee Gibb Dance Education Scholarship (2012)
• Noorda Dance Leadership Scholarship (2012)
• BYU Academic Scholarship (2010, 2011, 2012)
• BYU Laycock Center for Collaboration in the Arts Grant (2010, 2011)
• BYU Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) Project Grant (2010)
• Art Works for Kids Foundation Grant (2010, 2011)
• Mary Lou Fulton Grant covered expenses for 12 BYU students to attend the National Dance Education Organization Conference (2012)
• Leona Holbrook Dance Scholarship (2011)
• International Studies Program Scholarship (2011)
• Outstanding Kinnect Educator Award (2009)
• Miss Farmington’s First Attendant (2011), Second Attendant (2008)
• First place, Miss Farmington Community Service Scholarship (2008, 2009 and 2011)
• First place, Miss Farmington Essay Contest (2008, 2009 and 2011)
• Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers Scholarship (2008)