Dance Curriculum
Philosophy
Dance has been integral to social,
religious, ceremonial, and spiritual functions of many cultures
throughout history. Dance has been a way for people to express ideas
and feelings that were significant in their daily lives.
Dance is the art of gesture and
movement. It transforms images, ideas, and feelings into movement
sequences that are personally and socially significant. Dance
organizes physical energy within time and space, and may draw upon
the power of music, literature, drama, and the visual arts. Dance is
a natural means of communication and expression, integrating
movement, feel and intellect. As a fine art, dance is a balance of
knowledge, skills and attitudes. It embraces movement, creation, and
performance. Dance demands our personal best. It stretches the limits
of our physical ability, of our expressiveness, and of the human
spirit. Dance can be powerful, vital and joyful. People dance for
many reasons and in all stages of life. Appreciation of dance
provides a context for understanding the world and contributes to a
vibrant culture.
Children enter the primary years
already experienced in the expressive movement of play. This
experience can be a motivational foundation for all learning. Dance
education in the primary years provides students with experiences
that enhance their physical, intellectual, aesthetic, and social
development. Dance education provides opportunities to develop the
imagination, and encourages children to co- operate, develop
friendships, and appreciate their own and others’ abilities and
cultural identities. These experiences occur in a nurturing
environment where the student can be actively involved in the
creative process, and begin the development of a lifelong
appreciation of dance.
Dance links the body, intellect
and emotions. This integration provides students with opportunities
to further personal and social growth and to promote well-being. At
the same time, dance gives students another means of communicating
their own ways of seeing and responding to the world around them.
Ultimately, the dance curriculum, strives to foster a life-long
interest in dance. It will challenge students to new levels of
discovery and awareness and to the understanding of dance and its
value.
The dance program will give
studets a comprehensive understanding of dance through learning
specific dances, iookng at dances and creating their own dances.
Throuqh these dance experiences, students will be encouraged to
explore. refiect on and learn about dance in a meaningful
way.
Objectives
Grades 1-5
The students will:
a) associate movements with the observations of their world
b) organize their ideas into dance expressions
c) become familiar with the dance of various cultures
d) demonstrate qualities of movement involving speed, force, flow
e) demonstrate relationships through movement with a partner,
small group or objects
f) become familiar with the elements of dance:
actions
body
dynamics
relationships
space
g) understand various effort qualities in movement/dance
h) improve physical fitness through vigorous and continuous
participation in dance activities
i) understand safety principles as they apply to dance activities
j) appreciate the aesthetics of dance
Grades 6-8
The students will:
a) examine sources of ideas for dance-making, make connections between
ideas and dance expressions, and use dance for personal expression
b) develop an understanding of the elements of dance and
principles of composition and apply this understanding to all
their dance experiences
c) examine ways that dance mirrors and influences individuals,
societies and cultures - past and present
d) apply principles of movement (alignment, balance, breathing,
flexibility, strength) to dance
e) apply principles of fitness, health, and safety to dance
f) examine the works of various dance artists
g) develop critical thought and learn to support interpretations and
opinions when responding to dance presentations
h) develop social skills which promote acceptable standards of
behaviour and positive relationships with others
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