Dance Through the Decades: Historical Expression and Creative Choreography
Dance
•Year 6
•6 Lessons
This unit takes Year 6 students on a chronological journey through 20th-century dance styles, using movement to explore cultural history and develop sophisticated choreographic skills. By experiencing the distinctive characteristics of each decade from the 1920s through the 1970s, students develop historical empathy alongside advanced dance techniques. The unit uniquely combines structured style learning with chance choreography methods, empowering students to create meaningful group performances that bridge past and present.
Lessons in This Unit
6 lessons in this unit
Lesson 1
Big Question:
How can we capture the spirit and style of 1920s-30s dance to tell stories through movement?
Key Objectives:
- • To develop a 48-64 count motif demonstrating agility, balance, coordination and precision
- • To create imaginative actions based on dance through the ages theme
Lesson 2
Big Question:
How can we capture the energy and style of the 1940s and 50s through dance movement and creative expression?
Key Objectives:
- • To understand and demonstrate characteristic movements from 1940s/50s dance styles including rock and roll
- • To creatively develop travelling movements using different levels, directions and pathways
Lesson 3
Big Question:
How can we use our bodies to travel through time and express the cultural spirit of different decades?
Key Objectives:
- • To understand and recreate characteristic dance movements from the 1960s and 1970s
- • To effectively combine different levels, directions, and pathways in dance sequences
Lesson 4
Big Question:
How can we use random elements to create meaningful dance sequences that tell a story across different time periods?
Key Objectives:
- • To work collaboratively in groups to create 32-64 count dance sequences
- • To effectively use chance choreography techniques to generate movement ideas
Lesson 5
Big Question:
How can we use chance choreography and formation changes to create a powerful group performance that tells the story of different historical periods?
Key Objectives:
- • To work effectively within collaborative groups using clear communication
- • To apply chance choreography techniques to create innovative movement sequences
Lesson 6
Big Question:
How can we use technical language to evaluate and improve dance performances?
Key Objectives:
- • To understand what constitutes a good dance performance using technical criteria
- • To give constructive feedback to peers using appropriate dance vocabulary