Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Classes

Dancing autumn leaves

Dance and move like falling autumn leaves

Student dance resource developed by The Arts Unit

Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 dance

What will I learn?

You will:

  • copy movements inspired by falling autumn leaves

  • create your own dance movements

  • listen to music to create movements inspired by the music and falling autumn leaves.

Photograph of Virginia, or 'Gin' Ferris.

Today we will be dancing with choreographer Virginia Ferris. She likes to be called Gin.

Watch this video to get started.

Dancing autumn leaves – instructions part 1

Duration: 00:41

  1. Dance

Watch the video and follow along with Gin as she shows us how to dance like autumn leaves.

Choreographer on knees creating a leaf shape with arms bent over their head.

Autumn leaf falling to the ground

Choreographer on ground with one leg up in air.

Autumn leaf swirling on the ground

Choreographer sitting on the ground legs and arms outstretched and head facing downwards.

Autumn leaf shape on the ground

2. Create

Watch this video to hear about your next creative task.

Dancing autumn leaves – instructions part 2

Duration: 00:39

The Four Seasons ( Autumn), Antonio Vivaldi

Duration: 03:50

Beethoven's Silence – Ernesto Cortazar

Duration: 02:41

3. Dance extension

Watch this video with Gin to hear how you can continue to challenge yourself to explore autumn leaves dancing.

Let's create

Duration: 00:49

You may like to use some of the autumn leaves you created in the visual arts lesson.

You could tape, staple or tie your leaves to some ribbon or cord and dance with your autumn leaves to create the swirling, whirling movements of autumn leaves.

You might like to use your favourite music to go with your dance or you could use the music above.

Third-party content attributions

  • Choreographer dancing 1, 2, 3 & 4 © Virginia Ferris, 2020, reproduced and communicated with permission. Provided all acknowledgements are retained, these images may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes within Australia only.

  • Girl with leaves © Sue Dawson, 2020, reproduced and communicated with permission. Provided all acknowledgements are retained, these images may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes within Australia only.

  • Girl in tree © Sue Dawson, 2020, reproduced and communicated with permission. Provided all acknowledgements are retained, these images may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes within Australia only.