This unit plan was revised from the Ontario Ministry of Education Course Profiles written in 1999.

Unit Description

Students use improvisation to vary established patterns and to develop an idea or theme. They combine the basic elements of the dance form(s) into sequences, describe dance works using the language of dance criticism, and reflect on their own work and that of others. Through their compositions, they demonstrate the basic movement skills of the dance form(s) studied. Throughout the unit, they continue to observe and identify a broad spectrum of dance, and apply safety principles.

Big Ideas/Guiding Questions for Unit:

  • How does experimentation develop movement vocabulary and a personal dance voice?
  • How can students use the language of dance to communicate important ideas?

Learning Goals for Unit:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between dance and other art forms.
  • Apply the creative process to tasks and combinations.
  • Explore the use of various stimuli to develop movement sequences.
  • Explore literacy sources to develop movement sequences.
  • Demonstrate the application of the elements of dance with the use of a source to develop a dance piece.
  • Apply dance presentation skills.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse dance related learning in a variety of ways.

Materials

Assessment

Assessment for Learning involves learners receiving a considerable amount of descriptive feedback during their learning. It allows the learner to adjust what he or she is doing in order to improve (Making Classroom Assessment Work, 2007).

  • Application of knowledge and skills to the rehearsal process
  • Approach to class work and the creative process
  • Classroom protocol, safe practices
  • Application of technique, composition, and performance skills to tasks
  • Creative problem solving activities
  • Submission of a dance scrapbook, written assignments, reflective journals, e-journal, portfolio, or blogs
  • Teacher and peer observation and feedback

Assessment of Learning is checking to see what has been learned to date. It is the evaluation that results are often summarized into marks, scores or grades (Making Classroom Assessment Work, 2007).

  • Evaluation of the creative process and compositional work
  • Evaluation: Technique – culminating activity
  • Evaluation: Performance skills - culminating activity
  • Evaluation: Composition skills – culminating activity

Assessment as Learning is about reflecting on the evidence of learning. This is the part of assessment where students and teachers set learning goals, share learning interventions and success criteria, and evaluate their learning through dialogue and self and peer assessment.

  • Self / peer reflections
  • Critical analysis of the creative process

Notes/Assessment/Differentiated Instruction/Resources

  • Reinforce the supportive risk-taking atmosphere, observing group dynamics to ensure collaborative work.
  • Suggestions for practice:
    • Modelling
    • Guided practice and scaffolded exploration
    • Co-construction of understanding
    • Gradual release of responsibility
    • Differentiation
    • A variety of groupings and collaborative structure

Resources - Composition and Performance

1. Beatty, Patricia. Form Without Formula. Toronto: Underwhich Editions, 1985. ISBN 0886580374

2. Blom, Lynne Anne and L. Tarin Chaplin. The Intimate Act of Choreography. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1982. ISBN 0822934639

3. Blom, Lynne Ann and L. Tarin Chaplin. The Moment of Movement – Dance Improvisation. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988. ISBN 0822935864

4. Buerki, F.A. Stagecraft for Non-Professionals. University of Wisconsin, 1983. ISBN 0299-093549 (paperback) ISBN 0299093506 (hardcover)

5. Cheney, Gay. Basic Concepts in Modern Dance – A Creative Approach. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Book Company, Publishers, 1989. ISBN 0916622762

6. Copeland, Roger and Marshal Cohen. What is Dance? – Readings in Theory and Criticism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. ISBN 0195031970

7. Dance Films Association, Inc.; compiled by Deirdre Towers. Dance Film and Video Guide. Princeton, NJ: Dance Horizons/Princeton Book Company, Publishers, 1991. ISBN 0871271710

8. Dell, Cecily. A Primer for Movement Description. New York: Dance Notation Bureau Press, 1977. ISBN 0932582036

9. Edwards, Harvey. The Art of Dance. Boston, Toronto: Little, Brown/A Bulfinch Press Book, 1989. ISBN 0821217348

10. Ellfeldt, Lois, and Edwin Carnes. A Primer for Choreographers. California: National Press Books, 1967. ISBN 0881333506

11. Ewing, William A. Breaking Bounds: The Dance Photography of Lois Greenfield. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1992. ISBN 0811802329

12. Franklin, Eric. Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 1996. ISBN 0873229436

13. H’Doubler, Margaret N. Dance: A Creative Art Experience. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1962. ISBN 0299015246

14. Hawkins, Alma M. Creating Through Dance. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1964. ISBN 0916622665

15. Hoggett, Chris. Stage Craft. A & C Black Publishers, 1975. ISBN 0713-615575

16. Humphrey, Doris. The Art of Making Dances. New York: Grove Press Inc., 1959. ISBN 0871271583

17. Morganroth, Joyce. Dance Improvisations. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1987. ISBN 0822935503

18. Schlaich, Joan and Betty DuPont, eds. Dance: The Art of Production. Dance Horizons, 1998. ISBN 0871272075

19. Schrader, Constance A. A Sense of Dance: Exploring Your Movement Potential. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 1996. ISBN 0873-224760

20. Serbon, Elizabeth. On the Count of One: A Guide to Movement and Progression in Dance. California: National Press Books, 1990 (4th ed.). ISBN 1556-52090

21. Tufnell, Miranda and Chris Crickmay. Body, Space, Image. Toronto: Virago Press Limited, 1990. ISBN 1853811319

Videos

Dance Black America. Distributed by: Dance Horizons Video, 1983.

Dancemakers Video Series, Dance Collection Danse, 1995.

Magazines

Dance in Canada (archival copies)

Dance Connection

Dance Magazine

Dancing Times

Dance Teacher Now

Journals/Newsletters: Contact Quarterly

Dance Collection Danse

Dance Chronicle

DCA News

Dance Scope

The Dance Current

The New Dance Review, New York