Introduction to Dance Education

     Welcome to my readers! Normally this blog has dealt with subjects like Language Arts or Mathematics, but this section of the blog will focus on a portion of the curriculum most teachers are not comfortable with, Dance. I must admit that this is a subject that I have little experience in, but in my class I am not only learning about the importance of dance, but how it is applied to other curriculum areas. This post is my reflection on what I have learned in my second dance class and how it will enhance my teaching practice.

     In the first dance class we had many of my classmates shared a similar feeling that I had which was how dance was taught, especially to students who are fairly new to it. During this session we used action cards to demonstrate how we move our bodies to portray certain actions and convey ideas. The second class built upon this method, then used it to teach Mathematics curriculum expectations on timelines. My classmates and I were split into small groups with an era of music associated with that group where we had to create a performance that resembles that era. Below are some pictures of my classmates performing their routine.

     It was during this time that I realized how engaging dance can be, especially for students in the junior grades. It gives students to get up and begin to move, a chance they do not get for the majority of their school careers. Using these engaging dance strategies there can be significant learning in other curriculum areas. In the case of the lesson presented by my classmates we got to learn about different periods in history and how timelines work. I believe that the most learning in students happens when they are engaged, so finding unique ways, such as using dance, to get the students excited about learning is always better. I also learned about how dance is another method for students to express themselves and communicate their ideas. It teaches students about the different ways that humans can communicate with each other and creates another outlet for students to be artistic.

It is early in my dance education experience and I am already learning a great deal about how dance is used to enhance student learning in multiple areas. It helps students to be well-rounded by being able to express their ideas in various ways. I am excited to learn more about dance education and the strategies I can employ in my own practice to better serve my students.