This unit plan was revised from the Ontario Ministry of Education Course Profiles written in 1999. Updated in 2021.

Unit Description

In this unit, students explore fundamental presentation and performance skills with the development of new compositions. In their pieces, they continue to demonstrate the basic movement skills of the dance form(s) being studied. Students perform in settings that are appropriate for the pieces being performed and apply safety principles in their performances. Students observe and identify a broad spectrum of dance in performance and examine dance works, using the Critical Analysis Process. They refine their own work and reflect on the work of others by working through the stages of the Creative Process. 

Teachers may also deliver this unit after an intense unit in Composition in which the newly understood performance skills may be applied to previously developed student material.

Big Ideas/Guiding Questions for Unit

  • How does an awareness of performance qualities enhance the communicative power of dance?
  • How can the ability to revise and refine choreography through the Creative Process be applied to other settings in a person’s daily life?

Learning Goals

  • Demonstrate an understanding of performance skills and how they enhance a presentation
  • Demonstrate an understanding of stagecraft
  • Demonstrate the ability to use the Critical Analysis Process to analyze, interpret and reflect upon a variety of dance forms
  • Apply staging concepts to enhance choreography
  • Demonstrate performance skills in presentation
  • Apply the Creative Process to refine compositions and use the Critical Analysis Process to interpret, analyze and reflect on the work of others.

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
  • application of technique, composition, and performance skills
  • 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).

  • Knowledge of staging quiz
  • Written critique of a dance performance
  • Technique – culminating activity
  • Performance skills - culminating activity
  • 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. Dancemakers Video Series. Teacher’s Guide. Dance Collection Danse, 1995. ISBN 0929003314

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. 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

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

18. Linnell, Rosemary. Theatre Arts Workbook. Hodder & Stoughton, 1991.

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

20. Priddle, R. “Children’s Imagined and Actual Dance Themes.” Dance in Education, Vol. 1. 1989.

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

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

23. Serbon, Elizabeth. On the Count of One: A Guide to Movement and Progression in Dance. California: National Press Books, 1990 (4th ed.). ISBN 1556-520905

24. 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