Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching a Set Warm Up

Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching a Set Warm Up

The first time I went to a dance convention as a young dancer I was blown away at the class size, and the amount of choreography I learned.  The second time I went to convention I was used to the three hundred other dancers and became familiar with the style of the various choreographers and master dance teachers.  They were simply teaching a set warm up, a set across the floor with some changes, and new, amazing choreography.   I thought it was brilliant then and I think find the formula useful now.

I teach my set warm up to my students and I grade them on their memorization and knowledge of it.  (I do not grade my K-3 students.)  Understand that  repetition of the material in the warm up and across the floor can be disengaging to your dance students.  However, they will enjoy the opportunity for improving the across-the-floor technique and leap for joy when they've memorized your entire warm up.

Basic Jazz Class Warm-Up (Just a few...)
Head-Shoulder-Hips Isolations
Shoulder rolls
Back stretches
Lunges
Yoga stretches
Sit Ups
Push Ups
A la seconde floor stretches


(Just a few...)
Basic Jazz Class Across-the-floor (x-floor) Movements 
Jazz walks
Pivot turns
Battements (kicks)
Châinés turns
Chasse 
Slide step
Drag step slide
Chasse Fan kick
Layouts/Laybacks
Pirouttes
Grand Jetes (leaps)
Pas da bourree
Pas da bourre with turn

Dance Teacher Blog: Contemporary Dance Lessons

Pointe 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Contemporary Dance Lessons

Teaching engaging lessons in the style of contemporary dance can be tricky.  Hopefully your students have taken ballet, modern, and/or jazz classes to understand the intricate movement and choreography of contemporary dance.  While contemporary styled dance is fun for beginners, it is best suited on intermediate-advanced dancers.

When I teach contemporary to Grades 6-8 it is a very different scope than when I teach contemporary to grades 9-12.  I start by showing dancers different contemporary choreographers works via You Tube or Netflix.  I start with Martha Graham, Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey, Jiri Kylian and then move to Mia Michaels, Travis Wall, and Josie Walsh.  I discuss modern companies and contemporary companies and the subtle difference between the two styles.

Basic Lessons Grades 6-8 
Partnering (holding hand swings, not lifts)
Improvisation
Group and Solo Choreography (by the student)
Dance a poem, or story (see book list below)
A cappella dance (no music)

For Grades 6-8 Contemporary Project Books:
Ride a Purple Pelican Jack Prelutsky
Red Sings from Treetops A Year in Colors Joyce Sidman
Schoolyard Rhymes Kids own Rhymes for Rope Skipping, Hand Clapping, Ball Bouncing, Just Plain Fun
Street Rhymes Around the World Jane Yolk

For grades 9-12 I introduce contemporary movement to my dance students through musicality and rhythm.  At this grade level they should be intermediate thru advanced dancers and would have had some exposure to modern dance and postmodern contemporary dance.  The class moves a lot faster when I don't have to explain cutting and reshaping technique lines doesn't mean it's not "technical" movement.

Contemporary Dance Music Artists for Grades 9-12 
Lindsey Sterling
Ellie Goulding
Imagine Dragons
Flo + Machine
Vitamin String Quartet
Steven Cravis
Alex Clare
Muse
Coldplay

Contemporary Dance Projects & Lessons Grades 9-12 
Dance a Poem
Student contemporary choreography
Improvisation
Partnering (with lifts)
Solos, Duos and Trios!
Dance theater/Dance storytelling
Performance

Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching to the CA-State Dance Standards

POINTE 5*6*7*8
Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching to the CA-State Dance Standards
By Brandy Curry 

Jose Limon was taught to the
California State Standards

So you just landed an incredible job...teaching dance AND now you have to come up with curriculum and lessons that comply with your states' State Dance Standards!  What?  Or...you've been teaching dance in a classroom and a private dance studio for over 15 years and now you have to re-adjust your curriculum to comply with the state standards?  I've heard it all!  Worry, no more and decide from this moment on that teaching to the standards will not water down your activities, lessons, choreography, or assessments.   Your students will still master technique and improve.  They will be just as fulfilled, and engaged as they were before.  Now you will create a model and a formula for your classroom.  

California Dance Education Association

Teaching to the state standards can save your dance program money and make your program academically and artistically balanced.  Connecting your current dance curriculum to the state standards creates a rigorous program that is both intellectually stimulating and vivacious.  Forcing dance educators to comply with the standards does not force a stoic program, it creates a resourceful educator, and a progressive dance artist.  The achievement of the dance student that is taught to the standards is: a career in dance, retention of lifelong learning skills, well-preparation for collegiate dance programs, and a professionalism fit for the stage.   Jose Limon was groomed in a Los Angeles County high school that had an excellent performing arts program that followed the California State Standards.  As I've said before, isn't this what we want all of our students to achieve "Jose Limon" status?  Yes, please!

For a complete PDF of the CA State Standards visit: CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS-DANCE VPA