Students are learning to appreciate, celebrate and perform dance; the form and function of dance and how dance can communicate ideas to others. Students learn that dance can be social, recreational, artistic and ceremonial. Each student will explore the effects of music on their own bodies in high, middle, and low levels. Students will learn ballet, tap, African, liturgical, American folk and salsa dances. Costumes, color flags, ribbon sticks, top hats, cowboy and cowgirl hats and dance canes are just a few items used to celebrate dance.
Students have a chance to create their own dance space in the room, which they like because they can work at their own pace. To develop leadership skills, all students get a chance to lead the class in a warm up of the body. Afterward, each student reflects on how they felt and what they could have done to make it better next time.
Posted on the wall is a list of dance requirements that each student must accomplish for that grading period. This gives students the knowledge of the grade they will receive based on how many of the requirements they have accomplished.
The dance classes are not just about learning dance movements, but how to work together as a team, how to create something new, how to perform in front of others, and how to feel good about themselves.
Students also learn about the cultures and dances of people from different parts of the world. This helps them to understand and respect people.
