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Build-a-Dance!
So, how do you BUILD-a-DANCE!?!
The same way you build anything! Think of the
engineering process:
Ask--Research--Imagine--Plan--Create--Test--Improve
Where do CHOREOGRAPHERS
get ideas for creating dances?
. . . from nature. . . from stories . . . from music . . . from sports . . . from emotions . . . from current events . . .from photos. . .
FROM LIFE!
Scroll through this slideshow for dance inspiration!
Build-a-Dance Challenge!
1. ASK: "What do I want to express or share through my dance? What am I passionate about?" Anything can be used as a dance inspiration!
2. RESEARCH your idea using videos, books, etc. Brainstorm a list of words related to your idea and then improvise some moves related to those words.
3. IMAGINE! Do some creative daydreaming here! What music can you imagine using? Would props (scarves, sticks, or balls) help tell your dance story?
4. PLAN: Figure out a beginning and plan the middle and end. Or start with the ending and work backwards! Plan how each part will transition to the next part.
5. CREATE! Now begin to play around with your plan! Try out different music. Use some of your improvisation moves. Move around the different dance parts.
6. TEST: Show your dance to someone and ask for feedback. Or videotape your dance and view it yourself. Notice what works and what you'd like to change.
7. IMPROVE: Fine-tune and make any changes to your dance. Loop back to "imagine--plan--create". Retest your dance and see if you like the changes you made.
Now share your dance!
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Perform your dance for someone living in your house.
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Or videotape your dance to share on Flipgrid.
(This dance challenge is coming soon to Flipgrid!)
I walked around the Wasatch block and took these photos. See anything that gets you excited and inspired? Maybe walk around your neighborhood and take photos of sights you find interesting. Then choose one or more photos to create a dance . . . or even a story, or a painting or . . . .?
The important thing is to EXPRESS yourself!
Check-out this video of past Wasatch 5th graders demonstrating how to build a dance!
Past Wasatch 4th graders build dance phrases
inspired by their art and poetry.
Tools to help you as you create!
Click each image to open up the pdf document.
Dancer's Tool Box!
Elements of Dance
Move It!
Verbs to inspire cool moves.
Great for stories & poems, too!
Ways to Move It!
Adverbs to energize
your moves.