Dance Workshop #5

Dance Workshop #5 - Week 9 with Jacqui Dreessens

"Body Percussion and Soundscapes"

Thursday 6th September 2012

This week we began by watching the State School’s Spectacular. We specifically watched a performance that Jacqui had choreographed. The dance motif was based on the ‘circle of life.’ There was a range of different animals that were included in the dance, e.g.

Ø  Zebras

Ø  Giraffe

Ø  Elephants

Ø  Buffalo

Ø  Fish

Jacqui commented on how the people were dressed in both black and white clothing to symbolize the sharing of the planet.

We looked at the movement vocabulary that the different animals took during the dance. Some of the movement qualities included:

Ø  Fish – alternating and extended arm roll to propel themselves along

Ø  Elephants – swaying body/rocking from side to side, the group had to move in unison as 3 people were being 1 elephant

Ø  Buffalo – stomping, elbows bent, on a horizontal plane, knees bent and making themselves look big and strong.

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After watching the State School’s Spectacular, we began our lesson which was based on the gumboot body percussion dance. This dance is a stylistic dance.

We started off in a circle, experimenting with different kinds of body percussion. The percussion included stomping, slapping and voice percussion.

We then put the percussion together to form a movement sequence

We moved side ways, forwards and backwards. As our confidence and ability to perform the movements grew, so did the speed at which we danced.

Next we got into our assessment groups, and created our own movement pattern, using percussion. Within the dance our group moved on different levels to create sounds. For example, we were on a low level at times in order to reach the ground so we could hit our hands on the floor to create a sound. We also changed the speed of our movements to add embellishment. We also performed in unison.

Finally, we played the ‘slapping game.’

This game involved everyone and we all stood in a circle. We then held our hands out to the sides of us so that either person next to us could clap hands with each other. The dance used addition, by continuously adding movements in. It was a tricky game to get the hang of, but once you got it, it was fun!

Main Learning Points this lesson included:
- working together
- unison
- exploring various body percussion and things that make good sounds e.g. the floor, stamping our feet on the ground, clapping hands and so on
- practising dance movements with increasing speed
- addition of dance moevements
- embellishment
- use of different plane levels

Links to VELS:

I found the dance movements in this lesson a bit tricky at times and therefore would most likely try it with Level 4 (Grades 5/6) students. With a focus on teamwork and working well together this dancing, and particularly the 'slapping game,' fits perfectly into the domain of Interpersonal Learning where students at this level are expected to "work effectively in different teams and take on a variety of roles to complete tasks of varying length and complexity. They work cooperatively... students accept responsibility for their role and tasks. They explain the benefits of working in a team. They provide feedback to others and evaluate their own and the team’s performance."

This theme of teamwork, however, could be transferred to all primary levels. With this focus, students are working in the effective domain of learning and therefore are sensing, feeling, sharing ideas and learning life skills.

Personal Reflection

I enjoyed watching the State School's Spectacular - it was wonderful to see so many students being involved in Dance. It was also good to find out that, as the classroom teacher, you need not 'go it alone' when entering the Spectacular - there are people to help you out with everything from costumes to choreography.

I enjoyed the 'slapping game.' It took a bit of time to get the hang of it, but once everyone had found their way then it was really fun and everyone felt included and part of the group. Another fun lesson.

References:

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, 2009, Interpersonal Development - Level 4, State Government of Victoria, retrieved 4 October 2012, http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vels/interpersonal.html.

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