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Creating, constructing and collaborating through
music and dance
- Modern Indian Stick
Dances appear in part to be the phenomena of
Bollywood, India's prolific Mumbai-based film
industry. From traditional folk origins around
the subcontinent they have apparently evolved, as
often freely choreographed and executed dances,
into a popular vehicle for film music. Our
experience in India was of their performance at
parties and weddings where their announcement was
generally accompanied by enthusiastic applause
from audiences, who then joined in with their
friends and family.
- Almost any modern
and 'danceable' Indian film music could be used
in this activity. Otherwise you might teach
Indian songs with an obvious dance rhythm. Two I
can strongly recommend come from 'Folksongs
of India', selected by Peter Gritton,
Faber Music, 1993. The first, 'Koolu Koolanna',
is in straight 4 beat. The second, 'Chundamama',
is in 6/8 so each is contrasted with the other.
Both are from the state of Mysore.
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- No doubt these
dances ought to have appeal in Australian
classrooms as a very real opportunity for
teachers to encourage creative music and dance
among their students. If you feel secure
experimenting with instrumental accompaniments
the book has excellent suggestions for piano or
tuned percussion accompaniments based on two
pitches, D and A, small hand drums, hand cymbals
to maintain rhythm. If your students work with
these two songs they will have to modify their
steps to accommodate the change.
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- Once the songs are
secure encourage students to work in pairs
inventing and refining simple dance step patterns.
Talk about how they might use space, low, high,
wide, narrow levels and moves. If numbers are
uneven they could work in larger groups of say
three or four. Encourage groups to demonstrate
their moves to others. I usually sustain
activities involving creation for very short
spells - eg two-three minutes, returning to whole
class to discussion and reflection, before next
stage.
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- Offer paired sticks
to those students who are most engaged - but not
necessarily most successful. Mine are 30cm heavy
dowel Tasmanian oak - I use them for a range of
stick games in classes. This is embedded in the
philosophical notion of access and equity! - in
this way children who try are rewarded. Again
encourage sharing of new moves with the whole
class.
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- A
suggestion: If you want to take this on
for performance consider having the class
identify the moves which excite them most and
have the whole class learn these together.
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