 Use the first 5 minutes of class to respond to the following prompt IN YOUR JOURNALS:  Why do you think Kentucky and other states have included Dance as part of their required curriculum? Explain.

 Define Dance  Explore the Dancer’s primary tool  By the end of this lesson:  “I can make distinctions between movement that is considered dance and that which is not.”  “I can identify a dancer’s main tool and explain how that tool operates to create movement”

 Dance (noun) a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music.  Dance (verb) to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner.

 Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.

 Both mention movement.  Both mention the body.  Both mention rhythm.  Both mention music.

Webster’s Mentions:Wikipedia Mentions:  Patterns  Quick or lively  Art form  Expression  Social Interaction  Spiritual

 Dance can be “defined” many different ways. However it can be difficult to capture the depth and power of dance in just a few words.  One’s personal definition of dance can be directly linked to one’s personal feelings about it.  We will gain a deeper appreciation of dance by studying its components and its uses in society. Perhaps our definitions will change.

Dance is Movement of the Body, therefore it is extremely important to understand just how the body is capable (and not capable) of moving.

Understanding the parts of the body that create movement.

 The Human Body is a collection of complex systems that control and execute all of our bodily functions.  We are only concerned with a few … the ones that work to help us move.  The Nervous System  The Skeletal System  The Muscular System

 Consists of  The Brain  The Spinal Cord  Nerves  Your Body’s communication system. Sends messages to all your other systems including messages to move.

 The Frame work of your body.  Comprised of over 200 bones.  When you are born you have around 300 bones but as you grow many of these fuse together.

 The spine (or backbone) consists of 33 irregularly shaped bones called vertebrae.  Fibrous cartilage between vertebrae called intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers and allow the back to move.  This is how you can bend at the waist and twist side to side to side.

 Muscles are tissues in the body that are designed to contract.  There are three different types of muscles:  Skeletal Muscles  Cardiac Muscles  Smooth Muscles  Some muscles are involuntary-meaning they move on their own and you can not consciously control them.

 You decide to move.  The Brain sends a message to the appropriate body parts.  The muscles contract or relax causing the desired movement.  Muscles are connected to bone by tendons.  Bones are connected to each other by ligaments.  Bones only move at certain places called joints.

 Muscles and joints work better when they are warmed up.  Blood flow increases lowering stress on the heart.  Increased muscle temperature allows the muscles to contract more forcefully and relax more quickly.  Improved range of motion around joints.  Increased body temperature results in greater muscle elasticity.  Can improve endurance and conversion of carbohydrates and fatty acids into energy.  Warm ups are also an excellent way to focus your mind and energy for what you are about to do.