Dance 7
Elements of Movement

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

Prescribed Learning Outcomes

It is expected that students will:

use the elements of movement in a variety of combinations
demonstrate techniques associated with particular dance styles
apply the principles of movement to dance
apply fitness, health, and safety considerations to movement
use appropriate terminology to describe technique

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Elements of Movement in other grades click on an icon below.

Suggested Instructional Strategies

As a class, practise a variety of dance techniques from a range of dance styles. Discuss how the techniques vary from one dance style to another. Then ask each student to select a dance style and teach to a group some of the unique techniques associated with that style, using appropriate terminology.

Have students work with partners to research health considerations for movement (e.g., posture, fitness, ability to focus, positive body image). The pairs then share their findings with the rest of the class. As a class, create dance posters that advocate these benefits and post them around the school.

As a class, brainstorm a list of sports. Ask students to suggest and explore movements associated with each sport. Form groups and have each group choose a sport and then select and combine movements to portray it, incorporating sports apparatus as props if desired.

While rehearsing a dance sequence, focus on the use of the principles of movement. Use imagery such as the following to focus students' practice:

Imagine a straight axis going through your body from head to toe.
Think of yourself balancing on a thin line.
Imagine your muscles stretching like elastic.

Focus a lesson on the use of a single prop such as a chair. Encourage students to explore the range of movements possible with the prop and to incorporate the prop in warmup and cooldown routines. Debrief by discussing the potential and the limitations of movement in relation to the prop.

Provide opportunities for students to practise and refine dances with attention to technique. Introduce the term movement memory and ask students if they think about each step or perform a dance without thinking. Have students use their journals to record other areas where they use movement memory.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

After students have learned three or four traditional folk dances, have them use charts to identify the principles and elements of movement in each dance. Use the headings Body, Space, Time, Dynamics, Relationships, Balance, Alignment, Flexibility, Breathing, and Strength. Ask students to name each folk dance and then record their findings in the appropriate columns on their charts. Create a checklist or rating scale that the teacher and students can use to provide feedback.
Have groups of students each choose a dance style, then create, practise, and teach dances representing the chosen style to a class of younger students. Ask students to self-evaluate their dances by assessing the extent to which they have:
- incorporated appropriate warmup and cooldown demonstrations
- used correct dance techniques
- accurately demonstrated rhythm
- applied principles of movement to their dances
- represented personal artistic expression Ask two or three students to accompany each of the teaching groups. Have them provide peer feedback using feedback sheets with sentence stems such as:
- I noticed the dance techniques being demonstrated correctly when ---------- .
- I noticed space being used appropriately when ---------- .
- I noticed rhythmically accurate movements when ---------- .
- This dance reflected the performers' personal expression when they ---------- .
- A question I have for the group is ---------- .
Ask each student to identify one technique that is easy and one that is difficult to perform well. Then have each create a poster to represent these techniques, including an explanation in terms of the principles of movement. Collect students' posters and note their abilities to assess their own development of dance techniques.