Dance

Think about the reading and the activities we did in class, as well as your own experience with dance in elementary school. Think about how this approach to childrens' creative dance might be different than studio dance (jazz, ballet, hip hop, etc.) or social dance - why do you think children's dance specialists might focus more on childrens' creative dance for education? How do you think you might use dance in your own teaching?

When I was in Elementary School I can't recall any dancing. I remember learning about different cultures of music, and we would dance to the music, but it was never any more than that. Creative dance is different than studio dance because it isn't very disciplined. There isn't a right or a wrong to creative dance. There isn't technique, it is just what the child feels they need to express.

A dance specialist would focus on creative dance because if a child isn't comfortable with dance, they won't want to jump into technique. They would be a lot more comfortable with just moving with the music, or just goofing around with their friends. Integrating dance isn't about teaching technique's or even teaching dance. It is about enhancing the student's learning experience through dance.

I really don't know how I will integrate dance in my classroom because I have never been an actual dancer. But one thing I loved growing up was going to dances. So I might integrate dance by using it as a "break" tool. If the kids are working really hard than we can have a "dance party" break. I might also include dance by having them make dances for projects. I think it will be easier to integrate dance in younger grades rather than older grades.