Dance

Grade 4: Dance

• Body: symmetry versus asymmetry, organic versus geometric shape, angular versus curved shape, gesture, body zones (e.g., cross-lateral [left arm and right leg])

• Space: positive versus negative space, pathways (e.g., in air, on floor)

• Time: tempo (e.g., increasing and decreasing speeds), rhythm (e.g., steady, irregular, erratic), pause, stillness, with music, without music, duration

• Energy: effort, force, quality (e.g., punch, thrust, float, collapse, wiggle, explode, vibrate)

• Relationship: meet/part, follow/lead, groupings

"What's the Waggle Dance? And Why Do Honey Bees Do It?" Smithsonian Channel Video

Waggle Dance

Let’s get moving and wiggling our bodies just like the honeybees do!

Honeybees have an interesting dance called the waggle dance that they do to communicate with other honey bees. One bee dances while others watch, the dancing bee is communicating to the other bees where to find a new flower patch.

Start off by watching the video and have a close look at a dancing honeybee.

Now it's your turn to find a space and try it out!

Start by wiggling your body like the honeybee in a straight line. Don't worry, it might take some practice. Pretend your arms are wings and practice waving your arms and wiggling your body.
Next, turn and walk around in a half circle and then follow back onto the same straight line. (Try to imagine a line on the ground)
Now turn your body in the other direction as if you were creating another half circle, walk around it and return again doing your waggle dance up the straight line.
Try it slowly and then try it fast.
Think about how the honeybees communicate the distance of the flower patch. Try to communicate to someone in your household if your imaginary flower patch is close by or far away.
Can you create a language or message of your own with your dancing?