Valeria DeCastro
Multi Arts; Performing Arts: Actor/Actress, Dance, Music, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Theatre, Vocal; Visual Arts: Crafts, Film, Media and Visual Communications, Mixed Media, Performance Art, Performers and Writers; artistic director
Education
INDIANA UNIVERSITY – Department of French and Italian May 1999
Earned a Masters degree in Italian language and literature. Overall GPA: 3.78
INDIANA UNIVERSITY – Department of French and Italian December 1996
Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Language
FUND. UNIVERSIDADE DE BRASILIA – Department of Music, Brasilia, BRAZIL 1982-1987
Studied Composition and Music Education Pedagogy
UNIVERSIDADE DE GOIAS – School of Music Goias, BRAZIL 1980 – 1981
Studied Music Education for Children
Summary of Skills and Qualifications
Cross-disciplinary training with strong holistic pedagogical approach to teaching at professional and college level. Well trained in psychophysical methodologies from around the world. Extensive professional experience as a teacher, performer and artistic director in several countries. Strong background in music, theatre, contemporary dance, Italian literature, Commedia dell’Arte, film studies and videography, with training in mask and clown techniques, mosaic and yoga. Large understanding in means of promoting culture and working with diversity with lifelong experience teaching children and adults. Creative, detail-oriented and flexible. Committed collaborator capable of multi-tasking in a team environment. Reliable, able to perform tasks independently and maintain a high level of productivity on a time-sensitive schedule.
Languages: Portuguese – native; Spanish – fluent; English – fluent; Italian – fluent;
Art related: singing, guitar playing, composing, theater directing and acting, mosaic techniques, filmmaking, screen writing, contemporary dance, live performance, happening technique
Teaching and Teaching Arts (see under: Other experience in interactive artistic and educational activities)
Experience with Children: my own children, Music Together, public and private schools, as well as daycare institutions
Performing: (see under: Performances and concerts)
Props and Stage designer: Mac – Musical Arts Center – Opera Department at Indiana University
Outreach: member of the Executive Committee for the Brazilian Association at IU – BAIU – -1994 – 2009
Management: Century 21 – 2003-2005 – Handled contracts, negotiations, and closing processes. Worked with buyers in determining their needs, gathering information and finding suitable properties. Coordinated inspections. Advised sellers with negotiation and provided current market information. Prepared comparative market analysis and designed exclusive strategy to market property.
Experience in Education
2005-Present
Program Director and Music Teacher
Bloomington Music Together LLC Bloomington, IN
www.bloomingtonmusictogether.com
Teaches classes and also perform classroom teaching duties. Assists instructors in preparation and presentation of classes. Communicate with parents regarding facility activities, policies, and enrollment procedures. Confers with teaching staff regarding child’s behavioral or learning problems, and recommends methods of modifying inappropriate behavior and encouraging learning experiences.
Purchases instructional materials and serves as an account and office manager. Prepares informational materials for publicity or distribution to class members and to promote institution programs. Speaks before schools and community groups and coordinates promotional and educational events. Reviews and evaluates facility activities, interviews, hires and trains new teachers.
Outreach programs:
Minority Hispanic communities at St Paul Christian Center – Bloomington, IN
Mathers Museum Sing along monthly program – Bloomington, IN
Meet the Instruments and pre-school programs at the Wonderlab – Bloomington, IN
2015
Rogers Elementary school Bloomington, IN
Inclusion Aid
2014 – current
Substitute Teacher for the MCCSC Bloomington, IN
Holds a valid Indiana Substitute Teacher Permit. Substitutes for schools in Monroe County ages K-12. Works with inclusion and assistant need students
2013 – January – April
Music and Movement Teacher in bilingual context
La Paz Community School Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Developed and introduced a bilingual music and movement program at the school. Trained classroom teachers. Helped organizing a music performance for the end of the semester. Thought classes and performed classroom teaching duties for children age 3-8.
2012
Music and Movement Teacher in bilingual context
Centro de Aprendizaje Educarte by St. Joseph School Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Developed and introduced a bilingual music and movement program at the school. Trained classroom teachers. Helped organizing a music performance for the end of the semester. Thought classes and performed classroom teaching duties for children age 1,5 – 3.
2011
Program Developer and Director of Children’s Musical – “Wild Things”
Maple Bear Canadian School Brasilia, Brazil
Directed the children’s musical program for children age 8 – 12 at the Maple Bear Canadian School of Brasilia. Developed curriculum integrated program based on a story of Maurice Sendak “Where the Wild Things Are”. Worked In conjunction with teachers and volunteer parents to coordinate students work and create the “Wild Things” musical. The students were divided in areas of their interest and participated actively of the process writing the script, creating the scenery, lights, costumes, make up, dancing and acting, playing instruments, creating the music, making posters to advertise and creating a design for the represent of the show. Students were also responsible for doing interviews, documentation and press release for the musical. Created a musical community inside the school involving school staff, teachers, parents and students.
2011
Music and Movement Teacher in Bilingual context
Maple Bear Canadian School Brasilia, Brazil
Developed and introduced a bilingual music and movement program at the school. Trained classroom teachers. Helped organizing a music performance for the end of the semester. Thought classes and performed classroom teaching duties for preschool, K- 4th grade
2010
Program Director and Music Teacher
Music Together do Cerrado Goiania/ Brasilia, Brazil
Opened a new Music Together center in Brazil. Directed the center and thought music classes for mixed age children 0 – 5 years old.
2009
Unionville Elementary School – Teacher AID Class Size
Monroe County Community School Corporation Bloomington, IN
Assisted a third grade teacher in a classroom. Responsible for grading and helping students with their assignments and projects. Worked with small group of special need children (more than 10 % of them are identified as such) to enhance their skills in spelling, math and language as well with their ability of inclusion in the classroom.
1997-2003
Italian Language, Assistant Instructor
Department of French and Italian, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Taught college level Italian language. Developed syllabus. Prepared and reviewed quizzes and exams, Tutored grammar and conversation for students in Italian.
1995 – 97, 2002
Portuguese Language Instructor
Kelly Business School, Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
Taught and tutored Portuguese for college level students. Developed syllabus, quizzes and exams.
1995 – 97, 2002
Portuguese Language Instructor
Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Indiana University Bloomington, IN
Tutored Portuguese for college level students.
1996 – 98, 2001
Portuguese Language Instructor
Center of Global Change, Indiana University Bloomington, IN
Taught Portuguese language via interactive video technology.
1996-98, 2001
Multilingual language Interpreter and Translator
Bureau of Translation, Indianapolis, IN
Translated documents, instruction manuals, texts and audiotapes from English to Italian. Worked as an interpreter for Italian and Portuguese in congresses and conferences
Interdisciplinary educational activities:
2016 – Teatro Vida – Directed the musical “Os Saltimbancos” for the Portuguese department at IU.
2015 – Teatro Vida – Co-directed the play “O alto da compadecida” for the Portuguese department at IU
2014 – Teatro Vida – Co-directed the play “A farsa de Ines Pereira” for the Portuguese department at IU
2011 – Wild Things – Directed the children’s musical program for children age 8 – 12 at the Maple Bear Canadian School of Brasilia. Developed curriculum interdisciplinary program based on a story of Maurice Sendak “Where the Wild Things Are”. Worked In conjunction with other subject teachers and volunteer parents to coordinate students work and create the “Wild Things” musical at the Maple Bear Canadian School of Brasilia, Brazil
2008 – co-directed a presentation for the Learning Festival at University Elementary School on the Brazilian “Caipira” dance.
1997-2003 – used film as a Final Oral Exam project for foreign language students – Department of French and Italian, Bloomington IN (VCR format)
1995 -Taught music workshop for fifth grade students at the Elba Ramalho Public School – Trancoso, Brazil
1993 – Co-taught a summer course for children on Mosaic Techniques at the School of Education at IU
1988 – Taught dance for senior citizens at the Centro Cultural Galpaozinho – Brasilia – Brazil
1986 – Joined the Performance Group – Weather Report directed by Maura Baiocchi – Brasilia – Brazil
1985 – Joined the Performance Group – Weird Body directed by Maura Baiocchi – Brasilia – Brazil
1979 Directed the Children’s Musical Os Saltimbancos – (musical adaptation of the “Musicians of Bremen” by Chico Buarque) – Teatro Galpaozinho – Brasilia, Brazil
1978 – O Museu da Emilia – (children’s play written by Monteiro Lobato) – Directed the play – Teatro Galpaozinho – Brasilia, Brazil Director
Workshops and Seminars
2015 – Yoga & guided meditation 500 hours certificate – “Institute of Holistic Yoga – Satyananda Ashram” in Miami, FL.
2010- Taanteatro residency workshop in theater and dance with Maura Baiocchi and Wolfgan Paneck– SP, Brazil.
2008 – Directors weekend – Music Together Directors Seminar, Princeton, NJ
2008 – Working with babies in a mixed age class, Chicago, IL
2007 – Teaching Music Together in preschools, Chicago, IL
2006 – Movement and rhythm for Children, Chicago, IL
2006 – Planning a Music Together class, Chicago IL
2005 – Introducing Music Together: How Children Grow Musically and How You Can Help, Princeton, NJ
2005 – Teaching Music Together: Understanding and Enhancing the Young Child’s Music Development, Princeton, NJ
1989 – Italian Diction for Theater – Centro Teatro Attivo – Milan, Italy
1988 – El mondo della Commedia – Centro Teatro Attivo – Milan, Italy
1990 – Workshop in Modern Mosaic with Cinzia Prestigiacomo, Milan – Italy
Honors and Awards
High Scholastic Achievement at Indiana University during the year preceding Founders Day 1997;
Certificate of Merit for outstanding submission for the Indiana University Student Essay Contest Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program 1996
Certificate of Appreciation in promoting international awareness via interactive video technology On behalf of Indiana University, 2000-2001
Graduate Minority Fellowship for graduate study at Indiana University 2001
