'Think it, Say it, Do it - Expect the unexpected and GO FOR IT!
- Dan and Dave, 2007

The Performers

Dan and Dave (Rob Daniel and Dave McCleery) are a team dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people. They show students how to write and draw without the prospect of failing and how to trust their own creative process. They empower students of all ages, children with special needs, at risk and gifted and talented students with self-belief.

Rob Daniel (Dan) presents creative writing and memory workshops, he guides children into and through their imaginations. Rob writes children's stories and started www.chocmint.com an online creative writing and illustration studio, where children can share their stories and illustrations by creating and publishing e-books for themselves. Rob also works with primary school and high school students to enable them to create their own online newspapers, and two years ago won the West Australian Education Award for Excellence.

Dave McCleery (Dave) is from Ireland and has been an artist all his life, specialising in mural painting, cartooning, caricature and illustration. He connects with and shares his passion with an easy going, understanding, supportive style, which ensures children are compelled to work with him at a very high level. He is able to pass on his skills to both talented and novice artists in a way that leaves them inspired and confident in their own ability.

The Performance

Dan and Dave brainstorm ideas after a thorough, hilarious session of warm-ups for the brain and from there the creative journey is entirely unpredictable. Dan brings the very best out of young minds, while Dave gets right in there with them and recreates it all on paper as they participate. He gives students techniques they can use to take any inanimate object and bring it to life, seemingly giving ordinary items a will and personality of their own.

Dan ensures everyone in the room feels safe to express themselves without fear of 'getting it wrong' thus even the most reluctant writers feel compelled to meet the five minute writing challenge he sets them, often with extraordinary results. Clearly not everyone is going to be an artist or a writer, but Dan and Dave demonstrate that the possibility is there for everyone to do both if they choose. They put fun and enjoyment back into areas many children find difficult, challenge young people to discover their own passion in life and show them how to begin living this passion.

All artwork produced by Dave on the day is given to the school, as is a folder with ideas and concepts Dan uses during the performance with explanations on how these can be implemented during lessons.

Look
Observe
Gather
Imagine
Create

Reference 1

Mandy Stacey
Deputy Principal Coolgardie Primary School
46 Shaw Street
Coolgardie WA 6429
Phone: 08 9026 6014
Fax: 08 9026 6108
E-mail: Mandy.Stacey@det.wa.edu.au

18.10.06.

Rob, A HUGE thank you from the staff and students at Coolgardie Primary School for reminding us all that every person has the ability to express themselves in many different forms.

You encouraged children who are very reluctant speakers and writers to step outside their comfort zone and entertain themselves and an audience.

Each child had a sparkle in their eyes that we rarely see. They were engaged, enthused and most importantly eager.

To witness children who are not risk takers, grapple for your attention so they could be part of your magic world is a wonderful experience.

The ‘follow-up’ ideas in the folder you sent to us have given the teachers a new set of guidelines, to enhance programs that will nurture the confidence that you demonstrated all our children have.

Thank you again Rob, Mandy Stacey

Reference 2

"Rob will come to your school, instil a love of life and the imagination with all your students, demonstrate to them that they are all young genius's by proving they ALL have extraordinary memories, then leave them wanting much, much more. Rob is the catalyst for children to achieve everything he knows they can be."


Reference 3

Rob Daniel visited our primary school in July 2006 to run a series of workshops focusing on memory techniques and creative writing.

Rob's commitment to making education fun for children was clear when he visited our school for the day to run these workshops for a variety of age groups. (We had heard about Rob’s very successful student workshops other primary schools, and after an initial meeting he offered to provide an insight into the structure he presented to students). Through these workshops he raised children's self-esteem, and demonstrated that with a little imagination anything is possible.

Rob's professional skills made this a key learning experience and his gift for allowing the students to navigate where the workshop goes and seeing the funny side of things, makes for a highly educational and eye opening experience, with students' often producing work of an unprecedented standard.

Rob created an environment of safety allowing all children to contribute to the workshops and feel a valued and important member of the class. Rob’s skills, energy and enthusiasm engaged all the children and teachers in several large group workshops during the day, enabling everyone to have a lot of fun whilst learning invaluable skills.

Rob's work friendly attitude, his dedication and his talents are of course well recognised and we hope to have him return to the school to run more workshops very soon.

Max Kosovich, Library Resource Teacher
Yakamia Primary School, Albany, Western Australia


Reference 4

I have known Rob Daniel for two and a half years and present this information.

In early 2001 I asked Rob, who was a parent at Albany Primary School and a journalist for the local newspaper, to help me develop an idea to enhance a writing program I was running in my Year 6 class.

The idea, to create an online electronic newspaper began to evolve when new equipment and digital imaging became available at Albany Primary School.

Rob's reaction came as no surprise. His enthusiasm, drive and commitment saw the embryonic idea evolve very quickly into a product of real quality.

Over the last two and a half years, not only has the Albany Primary Telegraph continued to develop and expand with praise and awards along the way, but Rob's enthusiasm and total commitment to the process has inspired all who are associated with it.

His ability to help reluctant students, from all class levels, to achieve publishing quality work is a tribute to his efforts.

Rob was asked to work with our schools Retention and Participation program. To see a library full of up to a hundred students, willingly give up their recess and lunchtimes to work on writing, illustration and publishing, reflects the rapport, confidence and enthusiasm he brings to the position.

I know Rob as a wonderful worker with students. He displays a genuine interest in their welfare and is committed, dedicated and enthusiastic about all aspects of student development.

I thoroughly recommend Rob for any position that requires a combination of all the above qualities, and to any school looking at engaging Rob to work with their students.

Year 6 Class Teacher
Albany Primary School, Western Australia

Reference 5
"Rob’s energy and imagination challenges our students to see ordinary objects in extraordinary ways.
I highly recommend Rob’s workshops to any teacher interested in inspiring their students to be more imaginative and enthusiastic about writing."
Jo Knight Class Teacher, Little Grove Primary School

Confirmed School Bookings for Dan and Dave's Creation Imagination Tour 2007