Dance Intro Unit

Journal: Dancing in the Streets Think of a dance that you know or that you’ve seen someone else do. Pretend you’re teaching it to someone who knows NOTHING about dance. Write detailed step-by-step instructions for executing the movements. Then, describe the setting (church? Club? Etc.) in which this dance is usually performed. And finally, explain: What is the purpose / cultural significance of this dance?

The Purposes, Elements and Styles of Dance

Dance is a way of knowing and communicating Dance is a way of knowing and communicating. All societies use dance to communicate on both personal and cultural levels and to meet physical and spiritual needs. Dance, as with all the arts, has its own language. We need to learn this language in order to fully understand and appreciate the world of Dance.

Purposes of Dance – The Reasons People Dance Artistic Dance Dances created and performed in order to convey a meaning. Performed for an audience Ballet, modern jazz, tap

Purposes of Dance – The Reasons People Dance Ceremonial Dance Dances that are performed at celebrations (wedding dances) or ceremonies (Native American dances for hunting, war, rain, etc.)

Purposes of Dance – The Reasons People Dance Recreational Dance Dances performed in a social setting (Folk, Line, Ballroom, etc. )

Movement Locomotor – movement from one place to another Walk Run Hop Jump Slide Leap Gallop Non-locomotor – stationary Bend Stretch Twist Swing

Expressive Qualities of Movement Movement can be used to communicate ideas and emotions.

Space Shape (circle, square, line, etc.) Level (high, low, middle) Direction (left to right, right to left, forward, backward, clockwise, counterclockwise, etc.) Pathways (straight line, spiral across, curve, etc.)

Time Beat (rhythm) Tempo (fast or slow)

Force Use of energy while moving: Hard Soft Light Heavy Gentle Strong

Elements Force The use of energy while moving. Space The area covered by dance movements Such as Directions, Level, Pathways, and Shape Time How fast or slow (tempo), even or uneven (beat) and how long or short (duration) the movement is. .

African Dance Assignment (whole group) As you view the following video clips, answer the following questions for each dance: What is the purpose of the dance? Describe the movements used in the dance using the appropriate terminology. How do the dancers make use of space? What kind of force is used in the dance? What ideas and emotions does the dance communicate?

African Dance Clips http://www.alokli.com/site/video/video.html

Describe the Elements in this Clip

Describe the Elements in this Clip

Styles: Ballet A classic form of dance growing out of the French nobility. Its root is court dances. It is known for its: standardized dance movements specialized leaps and lifts French terminology to describe each standardized movement Pointe shoes for women slippers for men costumes---tights, tutus

Will Ferrell… Buddy the Elf or Ballet Dancer? You tell me.

Costumes—formal to street wear Styles: Tap A percussive dance form in which dancers produce sound by wearing shoes to which metal taps have been added. Tap dance, an American dance form which concentrates on footwork and rhythm, has roots in African, Irish and English clogging traditions. Its roots lie in recreational dance (Irish Step dance, jig and African steps). It is known for: An emphasis on rhythm Tap shoes Costumes—formal to street wear Improvisation

Styles: Jazz American music marked by lively rhythms with unusual accents and often including melodies made up by musicians as they play. It’s roots are in social dances and early musical theatre dance. It’s known for: Stylized movement Accents in hands, head, hips and feet English/French terminology to describe movements Jazz shoes or boots Costume related to theme of dance Improvisation

Styles: Modern A form of dance developed by dancers interested in breaking from ballet traditions and expressing a more liberating form of movement. It expresses complex emotions and abstract ideas. It is known for: Freedom of movement Usually barefoot but can use shoes based on theme Costume related to dance theme Improvisation used in the development of choreography

Authentic Engagement You’re going to see 2 videos (each is about 2 minutes long). Complete this assignment on a sheet of paper to be turned in. Summarize the dance in each of them using vocabulary that you already know, as at least 3 new vocabulary words from today’s notes. Then, COMPARE AND CONTRAST the two dances. What makes them different? What do they express about the HUMAN CONDITION?? I will collect this at the end of class—I expect it to be a well-thought out response!!!

Save the Last Dance

Savion Glover