Dance Room Update – 3/1/19

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a fun and restful winter break. Spring is on the horizon and lots of movement is happening in the dance room.

This week in kindergarten and first grade, students are exploring shapes. What kinds of shapes can our bodies make? How can shapes inform our dancing? Students are practicing rhythms and coordination as they change shapes both individually and with partners. Second graders have begun a movement study on animals in the zoo. We will be collecting ideas and images of how animals move in their environment, and trying it out on our bodies. What do you notice about how animals move? At the end of this unit, students will be creating their very own zoo dances.

Third graders are also exploring shapes. They are practicing their collaborative skills by working in small groups and embodying their findings. Our fourth grade dancers continue their studies of Classical Indian Dance. These students are learning technical skills associated with three different styles including; Bharatanatyam, Bhangra and Bollywood. In fifth grade, students are looking at the characteristics and traits of magnets and comparing to dance through Laban Movement Analysis. Repel and attract, moving towards and away, balance and counter-balance, are just some of the ideas that the students will be exploring with a partner and then using in composition.

The new fifth grade dance elective students started their improvisation unit. These dancers are practicing technique and musicality by learning how to travel across the floor in a dance class.

And finally, our middle school dancers continued their investigation of Alvin Ailey’s signature work Revelations. Students are creating their own dances inspired by this piece, while incorporating new and old choreographic devices.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Diane