Develops technical proficiency and creative movement skills across various styles. Examines choreographic principles alongside the historical and cultural origins of diverse global dance forms.
Students investigate the foundational role of dance in ancient and indigenous societies, focusing on how movement serves spiritual, storytelling, and ceremonial functions. Through case studies of Hula, West African dance, and Powwow traditions, they analyze how dance preserves history and fosters community.
A high-energy exploration of Hip Hop culture's origins in the South Bronx and its evolution into a global phenomenon. Students analyze the socio-economic roots, the social dynamics of the cypher, the physical 'grammar' of breaking, the impact of commercialization, and the cross-cultural fusion seen in modern K-Pop.
This sequence explores the anthropological roots of dance, focusing on how indigenous cultures use movement for ritual, storytelling, and community. Students analyze traditions from Maori, Hawaiian, and West African cultures to understand the sacred and social functions of dance.
An inquiry-based exploration of dance as a language of storytelling and ritual in indigenous cultures, focusing on gesture, formation, regalia, and rhythm.
A 5-lesson unit exploring the 20th-century rebellion against ballet that birthed Modern and Contemporary dance. Students analyze pioneers like Duncan, Graham, and Ailey, experimenting with movement innovations and culminating in their own 'rule-breaking' choreographic project.
Students explore the history of American social dance, focusing on the cultural fusion and resilience of marginalized communities that birthed Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. The sequence covers rhythmic roots, the Cakewalk, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Bronx origins of Hip Hop, culminating in a historical timeline project.
A journey through the history of classical dance, exploring how power, fashion, and social hierarchy shaped the movement styles of the Renaissance and Baroque eras into the formalized art of ballet. Students will move from court etiquette to the technical rigor of King Louis XIV's court, analyze Romantic era narratives, and create their own codified dance systems.
A 5-lesson unit exploring how dance served as the primary form of communication and history-keeping before written language, investigating Hawaiian, Greek, and West African traditions.
Students investigate how footwork technique defines and differentiates dance genres, specifically comparing Ballet and Jazz. They analyze the mechanics of the foot, experiment with stylistic qualities, and conclude with a comparative performance task.
A comprehensive 5-lesson sequence for 7th-grade students deconstructing the elements of dance: Space, Time, and Energy. Students progress from individual exploration of spatial relationships to analyzing complex movement qualities.
This sequence explores the evolution of urban and popular dance, tracing its journey from the 1970s Bronx to the global digital landscape. Students analyze the socio-economic roots, cultural spread, and ethical implications of dance styles like Hip Hop, K-Pop, and TikTok trends.
This sequence explores the early 20th-century rebellion that led to Modern Dance. Students learn about pioneers who rejected ballet's constraints to explore natural movement, psychological intensity, and social activism, ultimately understanding dance as a vehicle for personal and collective expression.
A comprehensive 5-lesson sequence for 7th-grade dancers focusing on the anatomical principles of alignment, core stability, and stylistic precision across ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance.
A comprehensive exploration of the American musical theater evolution, from its Vaudeville roots to modern spectacles. Students analyze how music, dance, and design integrate to create cohesive narratives.
A journey through the evolution of ballet from the 17th-century French royal courts to the modern proscenium stage, exploring how a social pastime for nobility became a professional athletic art form.
A comprehensive 5-lesson sequence tracing ballet's journey from 17th-century French courts to modern American stages, focusing on the intersection of politics, technology, and artistic expression.
Students explore the social functions of dance, from communal circle dances to hierarchical court dances and the cultural fusion of modern partner styles. They analyze how choreography reflects the values, hierarchies, and gender roles of diverse societies throughout history.
Students explore the rigid structures and hierarchies of classical dance forms from the French and Mughal courts. They analyze how political power, social etiquette, and costume shaped the aesthetics of Ballet and Kathak.
A journey through 400 years of ballet history, from the royal courts of France to the modern stage. Students explore how political power, fashion, and technology transformed a social duty into a professional athletic art form.
