Kinderman’s Legacy Promoting Learning Through the Arts
This is a momentous time in John Kinderman Taylor’s life, and career. In May 2006 he celebrated his 70th birthday, and nearly 50 years of working the performance arts. Kinderman has long been known as the “Pied Piper of Dance,” and is more formally a Master Artist, with WolfTrap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, as well as a Teaching Artist-In-Education, who is listed on rosters for the Maryland State Arts Council, www.msac.org and regional arts councils in the Baltimore/Washington corridor.
He has concentrated the last two decades on helping to develop young minds with his Kindercise In Action: A Moving and Chanting Approach to Learning Program. The Kindercise in Action Program is the tree from which off shoot programs, God in Kindercise, Peace in the Hood/ Say No! To Drugs, The Black Hall of Fame, and Get Loose With Mother Goose grew. The Kindercise core program which includes the song known through generations, “Friends, Friends, One, Two, Three," has also been translated into several foreign languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Hebrew.
During the past twenty years, Kinderman has produced curriculum materials, which include: 10 CD’s, companion workbooks, board games, posters, and DVD's which teachers, parents and children all over the world have had the opportunity to experience. He has been the subject of interviews and profiles all over the county and in the Caribbean, and has presented Kindercise Training to thousands of teachers, and hundreds of thousands of children.
Kinderman also adds 3 time Emmy recipient for his host interviewer roll in the “It’s Kindertime Show,” a program which he helped to conceptualize and co-produce over 5 years ago, to his long list of accomplishments and honors. He stopped hosting and producing the reinvented “The Kinderman Show,” in 2007. This popular show included educational spots, and shows that highlight arts events featuring children and renowned performing artists from the Mid-Atlantic region.
If you ask him why he does what he does, and the answer stays the same, “It’s for the children!”
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WHAT IS THE KINDERMAN ABOUT?
"He’s about being proud to stand up and be counted in front of your peers; looking people in the eye and extending a hand of friendship; seeing beauty and value and dignity in all colors. He’s about having fun together in a very large, multi-cultural environment without sex or violence being the subject matter…"
From a visitor to the Kinderman show at the Pumpkin Theatre
BRIEF BIO
Mr. John Taylor a.k.a. The Kinderman, is a three Time Emmy Award winning host, and co-producer of ABC, Channel 2’s It’s Kindertime, now The Kinderman Show . Master Artist-in-Education with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, and known as the “Pied piper of dance,” he has conducted interactive performances and workshops, for thousands of students, families and teachers at schools and conferences around the country.
RESUME
Annual appearances as workshop provider or keynote in educational venues over the past 25 years include:
• National Association for the Education of the Young Child
• Regional Associations for the Education of the Young Child throughout the United States
• Wolftrap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts; Master Artist Responsible for presenting programs throughout the United States.
• National and Regional Headstart Association conferences, In Service Training, and Residency programs
• Baltimore City School System
• Baltimore County School System
• Early Childhood Programs Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade Maryland
• KCMC Child Development Corporation, Kansas City.
• Provider Resource Organization, Portland Or.,
• Reading School District,
• Child Care Central Talladega, Alabama,
• Rainbow Learning Program, Flint Mich.
• Black Child Development Institute
• Indianapolis Black Expo Youth Day Presenter
• Certified Trainer for Maryland State Child Care Authority Conferences
• Maryland Chapter One Parent/Child Empowerment Events
• Kindercare Learning Centers Training conferences
• Artist - In - Education Maryland State Arts Council
• Artist - in- Education Anne Arundel County Maryland
• Artist - in - Education Montgomery County Maryland
OTHER NATIONAL APPEARANCES INCLUDE:
• Baltimore Artscape, • Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission Summer Programs • District of Columbia Public Library Reading Programs • Baltimore County Public Library Reading Programs • Lively Arts for Little Ones • Publick Playhouse • Morgan University CAPS program • Pumpkin Theatre • Boise Riverfest - Idaho • Kalamazoo Museum, • Columbia Festival For the Arts • Lively Arts for Little Ones • Marriot Castle Resort, Bermuda • Longwood Gardens • United States House of Representatives – Delegate for Wolftrap Institute for Early Learning Through The Arts. • Tours and residency work in school districts through out the United States, with hundreds of thousands of students served. Lists of schools and references provided on request.
INTERVIEWS AND FEATURE ARTICLES HAVE APPEARED IN:
The Baptist News, Columbia Flier, Baltimore Sun, Columbia Magazine, Horizon On-Line Magazine, Jubiliee Magazine, The Baltimore Afro American, Anne Arundel County Sun, Flint Journal- Flint Michigan, Duluth News Tribune, Southfield Eccentric- Southfield Michigan,. Baltimore Sun Papers, The Washington Post, Monday Morning-Columbia Md. The Arkansas Traveler, and numerous other publications throughout the United States.
INTERVIEWS AND PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON:
Montgomery, Howard, Prince George’s, Baltimore, and Fairfax County cable access programs, WJZ-TV Channel 13, WMAR Channel 2, WBFF Channel 45, Radio Zone Baltimore and Silver Spring Stations, V-103WXYV-FM and 102.7 VIP Strong Achiever honoree, and numerous other broadcast affiliates. EDUCATION: • On-Going Professional Development Workshops WolfTrap Institute For Early Learning Through the Arts • On-Going Professional Development Workshops Maryland Childcare Administration • MFA-1964 Art Education, Md. Institute College of Art • BA- 1959 Art Education, Morgan State University • 1978-1979 Graduate Study, Morgan State University Baltimore, MD • 1960-1975 Dance Studies in New York City with: Katherine Dunham, Eleo Pomare’, Babatunde Olatunji and with Anne Waugh Allen in Columbia Maryland. • 1955 Afro Cuban Dance Studies with Andre’ King
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE:
• Cultural Alliance of Washington DC • Panelist Children’s Event Maryland State Arts Council • Member Columbia Forum Howard County Arts Policy Group • Advisory Board Member-Children’s Youth Theatre Arena Playhouse Baltimore Md. • Member Children’s Committee-Columbia Baptist Fellowship, Columbia Md. • The Griot's Circle