| OCR Text |
Show Februar 9, 1979 Signpost Page 7 1 ' : 1 DR. GE,E A. SESSIONS of the history department has performed in recent Mormon movie. He also uses movie stars in his teaching as a method to interest students. Children to perform dance Ogden area residents will have the opportunity to see the internationally known Children's Dance Theatre directed by Virginia Tanner, in concert, Tuesday evening, February 13, 1979 at 7:30 p.m. in the Browning Fine Arts Center at Weber State College. This talented group of dancers will dance three of the pieces they recently performed with Repertory Dance Theatre in the newly restored Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. The event is sponsored by the Convocation Committee of Weber State College and the Utah State Fine Arts Council. Tickets will be available the night of the performance at the box office of the Fine Arts Center at $2 for adults and $1 for children. WSC Students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with an activity card. The concert cast features 85 dancers ranging in age from 5 years through 18 years and faculty members. Choreographers include members of Virginia Tanner's Creative Dance Studio faculty: Mary Ann Lee, Tina Misaka Cushing, Anne Sweat and Lisa Warenski. Virginia Tanner, the company's founder and director, is recognized internationally as one of the finest teachers of children's dance. She founded the CDT in 1949, and since its beginning 30 years ago, Miss Tanner has presented her dancers from coast to coast in the United States, has received national coverage in Newsweek, This Week, Cosmopolitan, Dance Magazine, and many others. Session adds to history teaching methods through many talents Melinda Rust Dr. Gene A. Sessions has demonstrated his many talents since his return to Ogden.in 1975. His knowledge of teaching, researching, and writing of history is usually recognized, but few know of his other hidden talent. It's his "mean face" said casting director of the movie "Brigham," that gave him a part in the Mormon movie. Though Sessions original part was script-reading for the historical background of the movie, he ended up in the mob which persecuted Joseph Smith. He later appeared on "Dimension 5," where he gave his opinion of the production. He said that the movie failed in many aspects of filming. For instance, their attire he considered "sloppy." They had a poor interpretation of roles, for Joseph looked "like an escapee from a Vincent Price movie on gargoyles." Besides his adventures in the movie, Sessions has done research on Mormon History and has published two books, which reflect upon Mormon politics and Latter-day Patriots. He has just completed his third book, which is in the publishing process at the present time. The book is a documentary account of frontiersman, Jedediah Morgan Grant and entitled "Mormon Thunder." He feels that his research is essential. He states, "I believe, firmly, that a college professor has to keep researching and writing, so the professor's mind spans and he stands dynamic." He continued to say tnat you don't have to research to be a teacher, but it helps to become a better one." Sessions declares that to him, "writing is work" and "teaching is fun." This could explain why students say he is "alot of fun" and "makes history interesting." He says that using movie-stars "helps students relate to history with more interest." For instance, the Civil War movie, "Gone With The Wind", he refers to Clark Gable for the North and George Reeves (star of the series, "Superman"), as a confederate soldier, who are concerned with the advantages and disadvantages of the war. Dr. Sessions confessed, that his teaching methods weren't always this effective. For in his first year of teaching at Weber, he taught history right from the book. Because it was "boring" to the students and realizing it wasn't his style, Sessions changed it. His decision was to dramatize historical events with "unusual" occurences, in hopes of keeping the students' interest in history. He now refers back to it as an "phenomenonal success." His U.S. History classes aren't the only one he gets excited about: He is also teaching a Women's History course, which he thinks is "all the more unique" because he is a man teaching a woman's course. This course reflects on the women's influence in this world as a person not as a minority. Dr. Sessions defines that, "Women's studies are not minority studies because the issues that confront women are issues that confront all of us, male and female, in every way." CLASS BEGINS FEB. 9th Ca" Das Evenings & Weekends Educational Center TEST PREPARATION SPECIALISTS SINCE 1938 363-4444 Call Collect r7 :. -ill; 450 So. 9th E., SLC, Utah 84102 ForlnformationAbouiutherCenters In Major US Cities & Abroad Outside NY State CALL TOLL FREE: 800-223-1782 it i " v? ij ( Q1ENN BAST! A.N AM) MOMCA tvrt on Tu.-s.lay, February 13 at GARCIA of tlii- Children's Dane- 7:.'M) p.m. in the YaJ A. Browning Theatre prepare for th ttanee con- (Center main auditorium. 7" ' 1 f-J 1 fi Ji. :A J t , 1 .1 -3 New trends in hair styling Pick one that suits you. |
