KS1/2 LESSON PLAN: DANCE

Thanks to the ease with which we can find examples of everything from ballet and tap to hip-hop and salsa, dance has become hugely popular. It’s a unique form of RHYTHM expression that offers everyone something to enjoy. Shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent can provide inspiration for lessons that focus on individual elements of composing (creating), performing and appreciating dance. NATIONS But there’s more to experience than just physical development. For Dance isn’t just strictly ballroom. Whether example, exploring and discussing dance allows learners to consider they walk like an Egyptian or get down storytelling, symbolism, creativity, to some South African gumboot dancing, and history. Most cultures use forms of dance in spiritual, recreational children will learn a lot about other cultures or celebratory events. Some dance too, say Russell Grigg and Helen Lewis... styles have been in existence for hundreds of years – indeed, archaeologists have found images Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Jr, > How did the name of dance on Ancient Egyptian reliefs Starter activity NTR, Joaquín Cortés, Patrick come about? Ask the children how many dating back to 3000BC. Swayze and Hrithik Roshan. > Who started the dance? watch or have heard of 116 Share with the class the > When did it begin? Strictly Come Dancing and words of Eduardo Galeano: > In which country did it ask someone to explain what ‘I’m attracted to soccer’s originate? happens on the show. Then capacity for beauty. When > Find a short video clip that Today you will... select an appropriate clip that well played, the game is a you think best illustrates the > Research similarities and includes the judge’s remarks dance with a ball’. dance steps or body positions differences between different and scores (find examples kinds of dance > Find out where the nearest at bbc.co.uk/programmes/ > Watch examples of dance styles Main activities dance class is held. b006m8dq). > Give your opinions on what you Into the groove Show another brief clip and like and dislike Explore traditional Encourage the children to ask the class to vote in groups > Decide which dance style you dances using ideas include information on the would like to practise and perform for their favourite dance. Give 1 from the English Folk Dance origins of the dance, key them time to discuss and agree and Song Society (efdss. characteristics and steps, as upon their group mark. They org). The BBC also has video well as examples of costumes can use mini whiteboards clips showing a variety of that could be worn when as group scoring cards or traditional dances, from dancing in this style. electronic voting systems, morris dancing and Irish and Explore artists who have writing a number on a 1-10 scale Scottish traditional steps, captured these styles, e.g. (with 10 being the best). Discuss to Bhangra, South African Degas, Pettee or Judith and sum up the results. gumboot dancing and Whittaker and find out about Explain that as well as Capoeira, as well as a 1960s famous dancers, such as ballroom dancing, there are dance party where children Josephine Baker – one of the many other types of dance. can see how to do the twist first black female role models, How many can they think of? (bbc.co.uk/education/clips/ famous for wearing a skirt Show children two brief clips zrv6n39). made of bananas. of dancing on YouTube and Next, divide the class Can the children find discuss these with the class. Try into ‘expert groups’ each famous examples of dances? to use at least one that features responsible for finding out For example, in the film The male role models. Male dancers key information about a Lion King, Timon performs demonstrate qualities such as given dance style such as the a Charleston to distract the determination, creativity and Charleston, the foxtrot, the hyenas, whilst Jeffrey Daniel persistence, and notable names jive, flamenco and hip-hop. can be seen performing the to consider are , Set all the groups the same first on British research prompts, e.g. television. You can view this at youtu.be/END_WYdf8pw. He then went on to teach a certain Michael Jackson how to do it.

Lesson plan 1 - Strictly.indd 1 16/02/2016 12:48 ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr Russell Grigg is executive Q head of research at the head USEFUL of the Wales Centre for Equity in Education and Helen Lewis QUESTIONS is programme coordinator for primary PGCE within the centre. > Why do different cultures have different dance by the ‘expert group’. Let them the artist used colour and texture styles? explore joining these positions in his work? together with travels and turns > Choreographers and drama > How many places in a flamenco style. Look at the teachers may use a variety of or occasions can videos of flamenco dance that starting points from which to you think of where the expert group provided, and create a performance, such dancing takes place? with younger children select as pictures, poems, stories or > What physical some simple foot patterns objects. Stimulus work could qualities do you need or turns, while older children be explored within a lesson or for ballet? Are these can join with a partner to use over a topic. A good starting the same for other the clapping rhythms and point is to allow children to pick styles, or different? Hot stepping movements they have worked a stimulus from the ‘mystery Ask the groups to present on to create a ‘new’ sequence. Try box’. Think about how this > Do certain dances 2 to each other their findings. to encourage children to explore could be used within a piece of work with different As they do, invite the audiences different relationships such as music and create some motifs musical genres? Can to note similarities and side-to-side and back-to-back. (a movement, gesture or phrase you ballroom dance 117 differences, e.g. ballet is en pointe Video the sequences and add which is repeated in a dance to to heavy metal? (on the tips of the toes) while them to the ‘Flamenco fact file’. represent an idea). hip-hop is identified by steps such as and . Extending Invite the group to briefly demonstrate some of the the lesson dance moves and set up the > There are many cross- expectations for follow-up curricular opportunities linked to sessions when they can further dance. In art, explore works that practise and perform dance capture images of dance. For routines. Some children are example, look at Afremov’s likely to do so on the playground ‘Dance Under the Rain’ – during their break times! Create where is this happening? an electronic fact file for the When? What has happened dances, using the Book Creator to the characters? What or similar app. will happen next? How has

Twist and shout Hold a dance event along 3 the lines of Britain’s Got Talent. You can keep it open- ended or focus on a particular theme. For example, if you want to host a Flamenco Fiesta, start by teaching a simple clapping rhythm to the class, then teach static flamenco arm positions. Pupils copy and practise these moves, providing each other with peer feedback. Remind the class of how the judges on Strictly give explanations of ‘what they are looking for’ in an excellent dance. Compare the children’s body positions with those captured

Lesson plan 1 - Strictly.indd 2 16/02/2016 12:48