Dance: Grades 6, 7, 8

Creating

Performing

Responding

Connecting

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and works.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and works.

Refine and complete artistic works.

Analyze, interpret, and select artistic works for presentation

Develop and refine artistic works for presentation.

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic works.

Identify and analyze artistic works.

Interpret intent and meaning in artistic works.

Apply criteria to evaluate artistic works.

Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make artistic works.

Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, historical, cultural, and personal context to deepen understanding.

Relate similar and contrasting ideas to develop choreography. Implement movement from a variety of stimuli (music, observed dance, literary forms, notation, natural phenomena, personal experience/recall, current/social events) to develop an original dance.

Create an original dance using personal preference. Use dance terminology to articulate and justify choices made in movement.

Collaborate and explore using a variety of choreographic devices and dance structures to develop and choreograph a dance with artistic intent. Articulate the group process for making movement and structural choices.

Determine, define and apply artistic criteria to choreograph a dance that communicates personal or cultural meaning. Evaluate Discuss how the criteria clarify or intensify the meaning of the dance.

Revise and evaluate choreography collaboratively or independently based on artistic criteria, self-reflection, and the feedback of others. Articulate the reasons for choices and revisions and explain how they clarify and enhance the artistic intent.

Explore, investigate, and experiment with aspects of a recognized system to document a section of a dance by using words, symbols, or media technologies.

Refine partner and ensemble skills in the ability to judge distance and spatial design. Expand movement vocabulary of floor and air pattern designs. Sculpt the body in space and design body shapes in relation to other dancers, objects, and environment. Incorporate and modify body designs from different dance genres and styles for the purpose of expanding movement vocabulary. Including differently designed shapes and movements for interest and contrast. Maintain focus with partner or group in near or far space. Use focus of eyes during complex floor and air patterns or direct and indirect pathways.

Vary and analyze durational approach in dance phrasing by using timing accents and variations within a phrase to add interest kinesthetically, rhythmically, and visually. Accurately use accented and unaccented beats in 3/4 and 4/4 meter. Use different tempi in different body parts at the same time.

Use the internal body force created by varying tensions within one's musculature for movement initiation and dynamic expression. Compare and contrast movement characteristics from a variety of dance genres or styles. Direct energy and dynamics in such a way that movement is textured. Incorporate energy and dynamics to technique exercises and dance performance. Use energy and dynamics to enhance and project movements.

Embody technical dance skills (for example, functional alignment, coordination, kinesthetic awareness, balance, core support, clarity of movement, weight shifts, flexibility/range of motion) to replicate, recall, and execute spatial designs and musical or rhythmical dance phrases. Apply body-use strategies to accommodate physical maturational development to technical dance skills. Accurately execute changes of direction, levels, facing, pathways, elevations and landings, extensions of limbs, and movement transitions.

Apply basic anatomical knowledge, proprioceptive feedback, spatial awareness, and nutrition to promote safe and healthful strategies when warming up and dancing. Evaluate personal healthful practices in dance activities and everyday life including nutrition and injury prevention. Discuss benefits of practices, and how choices enhance performance, and methods for improvement.

Collaborate with peers and ensemble to practice and refine dances by identifying what works and does not work in executing complex patterns, sequences, and formations. Discover strategies for achieving performance accuracy, clarity, and expressiveness. Develop group performance expectations through observation and analysis (for example, view live or recorded professional dancers and collaboratively develop group performance expectations based on information gained from observations.) Solve movement problems to dances by testing options and finding good results. Articulate personal performance goals and practice to reach goals. Document personal improvement over time (for example, journaling, portfolio, or timeline).

Recognize and recommend needs and adapt movements to a performance area. Demonstrate leadership qualities (for example commitment, dependability, responsibility, and cooperation) when preparing for performances. Use performance etiquette and performance practices during class, rehearsal, and performance. Document efforts and create a plan for ongoing improvements. Post-performance, accept notes from choreographer and apply corrections to future performances.

Work collaboratively to produce a dance concert on a stage or in an alternative performance venue and plan the production elements that would be necessary to fulfill the artistic intent of the dance works.

Describe, demonstrate and compare patterns of movement and their relationships in dance in context of artistic intent.

Explain and compare how the elements of dance are used in a variety of genres, styles, or cultural movement practices to communicate intent. Use genre-specific dance terminology.

Select a dance and explain how artistic expression is achieved through relationships among the elements of dance, use of body, dance technique and context. Cite elements of the artistic expression in the dance to support the interpretation using genre specific dance terminology.

Using genre specific dance terminology and artistic criteria, compare artistic intent and determine what makes an effective performance.

Compare, contrast, and relate movement characteristics and connections between dance genres. Discuss the relevance of the connections to the development of one's personal perspectives.

Investigate two contrasting topics, such as historical development of a dance genre or a social issue of great interest, using a variety of research methods. Create a dance study exploring the contrasting ideas. Document the process of research and application.

Analyze and discuss, how dances from a variety of cultures, societies, historical periods, or communities reveal the ideas and perspectives of the people.