The Arts: Dance

ELEMENTS OF DANCE:

• body: body awareness, use of body parts, body shapes, locomotor and non-locomotor movements,

body bases, symmetry versus asymmetry, geometric versus organic shape, angular versus curved

shape, isolation of body parts (e.g., moving just the shoulder when the rest of the body is still),

weight transfer (e.g., lunge, leap, roll)

• space: levels, pathways, directions, positive versus negative space, proximity of dancers to one another,

various group formations, performance space (e.g., confined, large)

• time: pause, freeze, with music, without music, duration, rhythm, tempo, acceleration/deceleration

• energy: effort, force, quality, inaction versus action, percussion, fluidity (e.g., wring, dab, mould,

flow, bind)

• relationship: dancers to objects, opposition, groupings (e.g., large and small groups), meet/part,

follow/lead, emotional connections between dancers, groupings

GENRES OF DANCE:

BALLET (RULES AND COMBINATION)
ELEMENT: SPACE
RULES:
1. ALWAYS FACE A CORNER OF THE "BOX"
2. POINT YOUR TOES
3. GRACEFUL HANDS (level with eyes)
4. REMEMBER THE "BALLET WALK" when moving in space on the stage

JAZZ (RULES AND COMBINATION)
ELEMENT: TIME
RULES:
1. BE SHARP
2. BE SASSY/ATTITUDE
3. UPBEAT/ENERGETIC

CONTEMPORARY (RULES AND COMBINATION)
ELEMENT: BODY
RULES:
1. BE SHARP
2. BE STIFF
3. BE ROBOTIC

HIP HOP (RULES AND COMBINATION)
ELEMENT: ENERGY
*Wear runners*
1. BE LOOSE
2. THINK OF FLOW
3. ACT "COOL" (SWAG)


SOCIAL/GLOBAL ISSUES IN DANCE 
(choose 2-3 to research):
BE CAREFUL: the internet can be dangerous when researching these issues, please be cautious when viewing videos and pictures, try to stick to written definitions and facts! First, research what the issue is, how it affects people around the world, and ways we can make our world a better place regarding this issue!
Next class, we will focus on how to incorporate it through dance.
- POVERTY
- BULLYING
- GLOBAL WARMING
- VIOLENCE
- MENTAL ILLNESS
- CHILD HUNGER
- CHILD LABOUR
- ABILITY/DISABILITY
- GENDER EQUITY
- EDUCATION
- FREEDOM OF SPEECH
- WAR
- RACISM
- ANIMAL CRUELTY

Links that may be useful:
http://cuc.ca/archive/youth/socialjustice/
https://freechild.org/youth-led-activism/
https://teachingsocialjustice.com/category/for-students/




DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

MENTAL ILLNESS (start at 2:00)

GLOBAL WARMING

ANIMAL CRUELTY

ANTI RACISM