Dance 4
Creation and Compositoin

It is expected that students will:

• Read a story to the class and ask students to consider the imagery and feelings evoked. Brainstorm movement words that parallel the story. Then, using small segments of the story, have students move in response to the unfolding events. Finally, ask students to sequence the segments to form a narrative dance.
• Have students move around the room in time to a steady beat. Then ask them to modify their movements in response to characterizations such as:
  • You are a three-year-old child.
  • You just won a million dollars.
  • You are a tourist from another country.
  Invite students to work in groups to create a street scene, moving across the stage or performance space in the manner of one of these characters, alone or in combinations.
• Play a selection of music. Ask students to brainstorm dance steps to the music, based on steps from a folk dance they have already learned. Then form groups and have each group select and combine four movements to make a pattern and then decide how to repeat the pattern. Allow time for groups to reflect on and discuss ways to add interest by changing levels, direction, or force. Add the music and provide time for practice and refinement.
• As a class, brainstorm words that indicate feelings, then record the words on index cards. Have each student select a card. Form pairs and ask them to move in response to the feeling on each card and to consider how their movements change for the different emotions.
• Conduct a field study to an art gallery or museum. Have students create their own visual artworks to represent what they have seen and then create movement sequences to represent their images.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

Recommended Learning Resources