Library of Congress
An American Ballroom Companion Video Examples

Off Jazz
Tap Dance Techniques and Steps

Great Performances
Dance in America: Wolf Trap's Face of America

Nureyev: The Russian Years

American Masters
Jerome Robbins
Something to Dance About

Kennedy Center Arts Edge
Excerpts from The Nutcracker

ArtsAlive
Dance Video Gallery

Grades K-4

Jazz Dance and Music
In this lesson, students will be introduced to jazz dance and jazz music. They will explore basic jazz dance movements, and will create a cinquain poem inspired by jazz music. Source: ArtsEdge

Makeing a Dance Involving Balance
Students make a dance that includes several balancing positions.
Source: ArtsWorks

Ballet and Classical Music
Students are introduced to the conceptual and practical elements of classical ballet as they learn ballet history, vocabulary, and steps. Source: ArtsEdge

Native American Chants and Movement
This lesson challenges students to create expressive movements inspired by Native American chants and poetry. Source: ArtsEdge

Shaping Patterns and Dancing Shapes
Students explain, and then use rope to create, several geometric shapes. They then create a dance based on the shapes. Source: ArtsEdge

Telling a Story through Dance
This lesson uses The Nutcracker to introduce the concept of telling a story through dance and pantomime. Source: ArtsEdge

Grades 5-8

Contrasting Emotions
Groups collaborate to create a movement study based on two contrasting emotions.
Source: ArtWorks

Pantomime vs. Abstract Gesture
Students demonstrate the difference between pantomiming and abstracting a gesture.
Source: ArtWorks

Our Russian Folk Dance - Grades 5-8
Students learn the Russian folk dance "Troika" and research one aspect of Russian culture. Source: ArtEdge

Elements of Dance - Grades 5-8
How many ways can a person move? Students will explore and discover the elements of dance by demonstrating various simple movements. Source: ArtsEdge

Dancing a Christmas Carol - Grades 5-8
This lesson focuses on the interdisciplinary process that relates dance to literature, music, culture, and history. Students work together to learn the "Roger de Coverly," as described by the author. Source: ArtsEdge

From Moccasins to Tap Shoes - Grade 5-8
Students will learn the basic dance steps of various American dance styles. Source: ArtsEdge

Moccasins Are Made for Dancing
Tomie DePaola's Native American legends lend themselves to the study of Native American dance movements. Source: ArtsEdge

Interpreting Mythology Through Dance - Grades 5-8
In this lesson, students learn about the mythological 12-hour journey of the sun god Re. Working individually and in groups, the students choreograph a movement that represents one of the hours in Re's journey. Source: ArtsEdge

Swing Your Partner - Grades 5-8 ESOL
This lesson features Barn Dance by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and introduces students to the American dance style called barn dancing or square dancing. Source: ArtsEdge

The Language of Ballet
Students learn basic ballet vocabulary and associate it with the actual physical movement. Source: ArtsEdge

Tappin’ to My Tune
This lesson on American Dance forms explores the origins and history of Tap. Source: ArtsEdge

Grades 9-12

Baila! Latin Dance in the Spanish Classroom - Grades 9-12
Students demonstrate and learn about the Latin dances of salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, cha cha, bachata, and samba through oral group presentations on the dance. Students will also research and report on information about the country from which the dance originated. Source: ArtsEdge

Graphs of the Heart Grades 9-12
Students will examine four of Martha Graham's key dance-dramas, and learn about the symbolic and mythological sources, and the relationship of set design and collaboration to the choreography and narrative of Graham's work. Source: ArtsEdge

James Wyeth: Capturing Dance - Grades 9-12
Students observe and learn about dance and create a series of artworks depicting a type of dance or specific dancer. Source: ArtsEdge

Legend and Life of Rudolf Nureyev
This unit explores how creative expression, artistic freedom relate and forces of social change forged Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s rich contributions to dance and choreography. Source: ArtsEdge

Shall We Dance? - Grades 9-12
Students will research a pair of well-known partners in dance and will brainstorm a list of qualities that are important for successful dance partnering. Source: ArtsEdge

Steps of a Giant: Martha Graham
This unit is dedicated to exploring the work of Martha Graham, one of the most innovative and celebrated dance artists of the twentieth century. Source: ArtsEdge

Improvisation and Choreography
Students use improvisation to generate movement for choreography.
Source: ArtWorks

Chance Art: Pollock, Cage and Cunningham
Students identify commonalities and differences between dance and other disciplines.
Source: ArtWorks

Interactive Gateway Curriculum
Students learn about 1960’s choreographers Yvonne Rainer, Steve Paxton, Deborah Hay, Trisha Brown, Merce Cunningham, Anna Halprin and their choreographic devices. Source: ArtWorks