Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching a Set Warm Up

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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

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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

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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 

Dance Teacher Blog: Summer Intensives for Dancers

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Dance Teacher Blog 
Summer Intensives for Dance
By Brandy Curry

I may be a bit too excited about Summer Intensives for young dancers ages 8-18.  However, I have a valid reason.  I loved attending Dance Summer Camps, Summer Intensives and Dance Competition and Conventions when I was growing up.  I met so many great dancers, and stayed in contact with these dancers as we were entering different phases of our careers from college, to touring, to training.  I loved meeting dancers from Michigan and Ohio.  (Seriously, there were so many dancers from those two states.)

Living in Los Angeles my students are exposed to so many amazing intensives from Joffrey West to Debbie Allen Dance Academy.  But what makes these intensives so worthwhile are the faculty, and the students whom travel from all over the United States (and, Europe).  I love that my students come back in the fall with stories, and incredible experiences.  Some of the dance intensives below require a dance audition, but most are open classes.

SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVES LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 2013
(Check the School's websites for Summer 2013 dates)

The (Alvin) Ailey School 
Brockus Conservatory of Dance and Musical Theater
California Dance Theater
Cecchetti USA
City Ballet of Los Angeles
Debbie Allen Dance Academy
Edge Performing Arts Center 
Idyllwild Arts Summer Program
International Dance Academy
Joffrey School of Ballet-LA (Joffrey West)
Liv'Art Dance 
Los Angeles Ballet Academy
Millennium Dance Complex 
Westside School of Ballet

Out-of-state parents you can plan an incredible summer vacation around your dancer's summer intensive.  Map out the surrounding area and use Travel websites and plan a vacation your family will talk about for years to come.  

Dance Teacher Blog: Rubrics for Dance Teachers

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Dance Teacher Blog
Rubrics for Dance Teachers
By Brandy Curry

Remaining objective when grading dance performance is tricky business. You must give an equal opportunity for those dancers not as advanced as other dancers. However, your quiz or assessment must be fair and give students enough feedback so that they may improve whether they are a beginning dancer or an advanced dancer.

I use rubrics for grades K-12, and for all of my quizzes, tests, and of course final examinations.  I even use a rubric for short quizzes on choreography memorization.  I think that participation and memorization are the most important criteria for grading dance.  When my students are are Grades K-3 I adjust the importance of the criteria to attention and follows instructions.  Figure out what your end result is?  Do you want them to improve on vocabulary and terminology, is participation and cooperation your need for assessment?  I enlarge my rubric to 8 x 11 paper or poster size 11x17 and show my students the rubric prior to the test.  When I'm giving a final examination I post it in the classroom a day or two prior to their examination.

RESOURCES FOR RUBRICS
RubiStar 
Teacher Planet

Here is an example of a Rubric you can find at RubiStar.com 

Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Performance & Theater Etiquette

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Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching Performance & Theater Étiquette

Kodak Theatre Los Angeles

Teaching the basics about theater étiquette is so important for any performing arts student.  This also makes for an excellent lesson and topic of discussion for Junior High and High School students.  I take about a week to teach Theater Étiquette and give a fun quiz at the end.  I always say, "If any of you walk into a professional theater I want them to know you are well trained."

This coincides with the lesson on dance étiquette, room étiquette, and dance basics.  Performance is an intricate part of dance in K-12 education.  In California it shows up in our Dance Content Standards:
Visit: http://www.cde.ca.gov

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Creating, Performing, and Participating in Dance

Students apply choreographic principles, processes, and skills to create and communi­cate meaning through the improvisation, composition, and performance of dance.

CONTEXT OF THE LESSON

1. Explore the rehearsal process
2. Discuss rehearsal habits, rules, étiquette
3. Help students discover their own good, habits, rules and étiquette
4. Tell stories about your own theater experience
5. Teach perspective;  the Directors perspective, the audiences', the Stage Managers
6. Go over roles: Director, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Production Manager, Technichians
7. Remind students they are part of a cast, or an ensemble
8. Costume étiquette: Always hang it up yourself!

A great book to share with your advanced students, or Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 is Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night by Kristin Kessel.  It has great topics on theater étiquette that will help guide and prepare your dancers for the big day!  

 "It is important to be present at every scheduled rehearsal.  Each one is an opportunity for you to learn and participate, and is the next step towards a fabulous show.  You are part of a team that can only succeed if each member contributes equally.  If dancers are missing from rehearsals, how will the show improve before the recital?"  

~Kristin Kessel Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night

Break a leg!

Dance Teacher Blog: Lesson Plans for Dance Teachers

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Dance Teacher Blog: Lesson Plans for Dance Teachers
By Brandy Curry

Weekly Lesson Plan Template
TeacherPlanet.com

My first two years of teaching dance in K-12 education I skated by without writing a lesson plan.  I know, I know!  I preach creating lesson plans, either weekly or daily.  I personally do the following:

1. Yearly Lessons (Pacing Plan) either in content format or calendar format
2. Monthly Lesson in calendar format
3. Weekly Lesson Plan using a template from TeacherPlanet.com (SEE PHOTO)
4. I prepare a daily lesson plan for substitute teachers, evaluations, or if I need a more cohesive plan

Creating a lesson plan has saved me time in organizing my classroom as well as organizing my music, costumes and props if needed, etc.  Sometimes these meticulous lessons turn into exquisite choreography pieces.  One of my lesson plans for my Kindergarten Creative Movement class turned into a fun activity that I turned into choreography for our Spring Showcase.  

Brandy's Sample Lesson Plan for iPad

LESSON PLAN WEBSITES FOR EDUCATORS
TeacherPlanet.com
LessonPlans4Teachers.com

TECHNOLOGY & LESSON PLANNING
I have recently taken my lesson plans to the next level with
exciting bells and whistles by creating everything on my iPad.  (The template shown is for my iPad.)  I connect my iPad to our television or Smart Board and my students can now read what the activity or lesson will be for that day.   I also use Keynote which is Apple's version of PowerPoint and I make Digital Flashcards.  (SEE PHOTO BELOW)

Brandy's Digital Flashcard