Who?
Paula Wick inspired by Tom Grove.

What?
15 cards featuring original art and prompts to explore Essential Questions we ask ourselves throughout our lifetimes. 
Where?
Anywhere personal reflection and meaningful conversations take place.
​When?
Coming soon!
Why?
​Because I believe these cards offer opportunities for reflection, conversation and healing.
How?
​Individually or with others, choose a card and begin reflecting on how the question has been answered during your lifetime. 

The Essential Questions 
The Essential Questions were developed by Thomas W Grove and printed in his book The Essential Social Curriculum
as available on Amazon.com.

www.amazon.com/Essential-Social-Curriculum-Mr-Grove/dp/0615778267
​Grove, Tom. The Essential Social Curriculum. tom\grove#llc, 2013.

An Introduction
Intent on exploring my Shine From Within mantra through inquiry and creative expression, I stepped into The Answer Dance when I began illustrating Tom Grove’s Essential Questions (EQs). I learned about the EQs in Mr. Grove’s book The Essential Social Curriculum (2013, available on Amazon). Grove lists the 14 Essential Questions and describes ways in which we engage in a dance with one another as we strive to answer questions of existence, worth and lovability throughout our lifetimes.

The Answer Dance involves all the messages we exchange with others as we move through life and ultimately develop a perception and story of who we are. Sometimes we glide in step with others, often we collide, as we seek confirmation of our existence. During our lifetime of dance, we acquire patterns of action and reaction in our quest to be seen, heard, valued and loved.
​
Work with the Essential Questions led me to see privilege I often take for granted. I realize I have been shaped and silenced by well-designed systems. My socialization includes complicity in white supremacist views. I’ve come to see The Answer Dance as a gateway toward deeper self-knowing and healing. I’m compelled to share because I see a growing willingness among people to get uncomfortable through exploring sometimes difficult questions. The Answer Dance is an invitation to examine socialization and privilege that influence worldview. 

I designed The Answer Dance materials to support reflections about family, neighborhood, school and community dynamics that shape beliefs, values and actions. Through the Answer Dance, we explore the Essential Questions and the dynamic ways all people interact. Due to our human impulse to defend, the dance often provokes discomfort and dissonance. We have a similar impulse to strive and stretch in search of affirmative answers to our Essential Questions. The dance is evidence of our shared humanity. I believe that through conscious exploration of our current conclusions and contradictions we can avail ourselves to new possibilities.

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