History of Dance Lesson Plans

Young scholars explore traditional dances.  In this multicultural humanities lesson, students investigate a specific country, examining its history, geography, climate, government, economics and arts.  Young scholars draw inferences about the vital role that dance played in their identified country and compare and contrast their findings with other countries researched.

Students perform square dancing steps. For this square dancing lesson, students view a video to learn the basic steps.  Students discuss the history of the dance and perform with partners. 

Students identify how they themselves use movement and dance and the many ways that people move and dance in various contexts. They observe and imitate folk movement and dance while decoding their skills and kinesthetic abilities. Students also identify the importance of folk dance to cultural groups and that they understand the folk group is the folk dance.

Learners perform a folk dance and discuss its cultural and historical meanings. They review the dance and perform it, beginning with four individuals who dance with confidence right from the start.

Tenth graders examine various dances focused on issues faced by society. While viewing, they identify and analyze the movements and how they relate to the sociocultural issues. To complete the lesson, they develop their own dance with costumes describing their own feelings about one issue.

Twelfth graders investigate Ekon kon or Djola or Jola (dance), a noncompetitive, communal dance performed by the Djola people from the Sene-Gambia region of West Africa. They listen to a lecture by the teacher about the West African cultures that include this dance. The lesson plan includes many resources for the teacher as well as explicit directions for performing the dance.

Students integrate the study of the Revolutionary War through dance. They study many dances such as The Waltz, Charleston, Swing, Fox Trot, 50's and 60's dances all the way to the current Cha Cha Slide. They study the social aspect, formalities and etiquette of the dance.

Students gather information about traditional dances. In this folk dance lesson, students work in small groups to research a type of folk dance, then present information and perform the dance for the class.

Students study introductory history and cultural purposes of selected Japanese dance forms. They analyze the philosophical beliefs, social systems, and movement norms that influence the function and role of Japanese dance in the lives of its people.

Students compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives to understand commonality and diversity among cultures. They analyze examples of interactions between cultural groups and explain factors that contribute to cooperation and conflict.