Breaking Down Cultural Barriers Through Dance

Joanna Pang Atkins

By Lori Marie Blair
August 13, 2018

Joanna Pang Atkins is describing her life of travel. "The world is filled with fascination and tradition." A renaissance woman with an arts focus, Joanna's most often recognized from her breakout role on a popular kids' TV show, The Secrets of Isis where she played effervescent teenager Cindy Lee and stole scenes with her winsome smile. I first connected with Joanna after writing an article on Isis. These days, Joanna, an accomplished dancer, is a teaching artist through World Dance residencies. Her Facebook page is filled with photos of smiling students dressed in colorful costumes caught on camera mid-dance. Joanna focuses each class on a different country, teaching dance as well as some culture. "The more kids learn about cultures, the less afraid they will be of the unfamiliar and the unknown."

I asked how she came to World Dance. Well-traveled since childhood, Joanna was in Hungary with her husband, producer Dick Atkins, who was filming a movie. Her son attended pre-kindergarten at The American International School of Budapest. While there she became involved with her son's school and the principal asked her to teach a class in international dance. Upon returning to the US, Joanna wanted to continue the practice and began teaching an ethnic dance class at her son's school. "The director of the school loved the dancing so much that she asked my husband to write a kindergarten graduation musical incorporating the dances! Thus, the beginning of my World Dance residencies!"

Many schools have made Joanna's World Dance residency, now in its 25th year, an annual tradition. Joanna takes pride in her longevity. "Last year (I taught) my first 2nd generation student. I gave her a photo of her Dad as a 4th grader carrying the American flag leading The Parade of Nations." Former students remember the dances she taught them when they were children. "I'm proud that I have created special memories of their school days."

Inclusiveness is important to Joanna. "One young boy had to use a walker, so I asked him to lead his class in the "Parade of Nations" to begin the show. His walker was decorated by his classmates with green and yellow streamers, for the colors of the Brazilian flag, and he even performed onstage with his class dancing a fast-paced Brazilian dance! His mother cried after the performance."

I asked how World Dance benefits her young students. "Of course the obvious benefit of teaching about different countries is the exposure that students get to diverse cultures around the world, through the music, dance, costumes and even a bit of history. I hope they develop understanding, tolerance, and acceptance of those very different from themselves." Learning isn't limited to unfamiliar cultures. Joanna continued, "Many students are excited and surprised even to learn a bit more about their family backgrounds."

Sometimes lessons impact children in the most unusual ways. "I was told that one young girl, years after she'd been with me, won an academic competition because she was the only one who could answer the final question, identifying the flag of Ghana because she remembered it from the dance residency!"

When Joanna performs she usually presents a classical Japanese fan dance or a traditional Chinese Ribbon Dance. Both beautiful, I ask if she has a favorite dance. "There is something special about all the cultural dances, from Japan to Scotland, from Kenya to Mongolia. The most popular selection is the Italian dance. The most energetic show closers are the Russian Trepak and the Merengue from the Dominican Republic."

From an early age, Joanna took lessons at her mother's Ballet Arts studio in the San Francisco Bay area. "My mother was a tremendous influence on me. She taught me the beauty and universal language of dance, and the wonder of having a profound effect on the lives of young people." Joanna and her brother took to music theatre and began dancing together on a local TV program. "Of all the TV we did in the past, my grandmother's favorite was our ballroom dance performance on The Lawrence Welk show."

Ballet itself is a demanding art. Joanna explained she learned discipline and hard work from practicing it through the years. She went on to explain its continuing influence in her teaching. "As a teacher, ballet (and other dance) experience helped me break down the learning process step by step, and to show the kids that they are able to achieve the end goal if they can just understand each step of the process. Eight counts, quarter turns, stage presence. Then something all comes together at the end, that they could never have believed at the beginning."

I asked Joanna about the transition from child star to adult performer. She spoke about how being involved in a variety of disciplines, from ballet to musical theatre productions, tv shows, and modeling saved her from relying on one talent. Her adaptability kept her in the business, but her mother guided her through rejections and disappointments. "She taught me if you don't get one job, move on to the next audition. Never dwell in the disappointment of jobs you didn't get and celebrate the ones you did."

This eclectic lifestyle stayed with Joanna. "I moved to NY to pursue theater, and while I did some theater and 1st national tours, most of my work was in TV, commercials, and modeling." Then she met her husband and transitioned into mother and world dance via her son.

What keeps this cosmopolitan woman happy? My World Dance residencies are pretty all-consuming." She shared some heart-warming words from students. From a third grade girl, "I thought I was a shy girl, but I learned I'm really not a shy girl." And from a second-grade boy, "I am the box king." Joanna explained further, "He was struggling to master the box step and he had finally gotten it." I asked her plans for the future, "I may look to slow down a little bit! I would love to have more time for travel and exploring more of the world along with some quiet beach vacations too! I love my life, and I am delighted."

Joanna's World Dance Website