Ballet

Description

• Ballet is the foundation of many styles of dance.  

Skills

First position - The heels of the feet are together with the toes pointing out. The arms are placed in front of the body at the belly button and are gently curved.

• Second position - The feet remain in the same position however the heels are shoulder width apart. Arms are to the side slightly lower than shoulder height.

• Third position - The feet are touching, one foot in front of the other and overlapping, covering half of the foot. The toes should be pointing out. One arm remains out to the side while the other arm is in front of the body.

• Forth position - This position is the same as third position, however the feet are separated. One arm remains out to the side while the arm that was in front of the body is taken to above the head.

• Fifth position - The feet are touching with one foot in front of the other. The heel of one foot is touching the toes of the other. Both arms are above the hea

• A dancer can use the techniques of ballet to strengthen the lower body and develop flexibility. Ballet dancing involves many steps performed with particular attention to body stance and movement. When performing the many steps dancers work form five basic positions with the legs rotated outwards.

Jazz

• Description

• Jazz dancing uses many techniques from ballet dancing however there are many differences between the two styles. Jazz uses strong, sharp movements with various rhythms and patterns. This style uses kicks, leaps and isolations.

Skills

• Ball Change Cross

  • Step to right side, with right foot.

  • Place your left foot behind the right on the ball

  • Change your weight to the back foot ( right foot) and place on right foot flat on the ground.

•  Jazz Walk

  • Step with your right leg.

  • Make sure when you land your legs are bent, (like a pile)

  • Repeat with your left leg

  • Make sure both legs are bent when they touch the floor.

•  Shimmy

  • Move your right shoulder forwards

  • Move your left shoulder back

  • Move your left shoulder forwards

  • Move your right shoulder back

  • STAR Tip- these movements are done in a really fast shake

• Jazz hands

  •  Open hands with palms facing forwards

  • Fingers are widely spread.

•  High kick

  •  Kick one leg high in the air.

  •  This leg must be kept straight.

  • Make sure the supporting leg is kept straight.

Tap 

Description

When tap dancing, dancers wear special shoes which make sounds. When tap dancing, dancers mainly use the bottom half of their bodies, though the arms may be used to add style. When tap dancing, dancers can use odd and even beats in time with the music. Tap dancing involves many steps including, shuffles, brushes, heel digs, tap steps and tap springs. These steps can be either performed slow or fast.

Skills

Brush Using one leg the knee is flexed. Imagine a kicking movement and strike the ball of the foot against the floor. The leg rises in the air until the knee is straight. This movement can be done I a forwards or backwards motion.

 Shuffle A forward brush followed by a back brush to the front, side or back. This is usually a rapid movement.

 Heel Dig  With the toe raised strike the back part if the heel forward onto the floor.

 Ball Change Two steps on the ball of the feet, back front.

 Pickup With the heel on the floor and the toe up brush the foot back landing on the ball of the foot. This movement creates tow sounds.

Contemporary 

Description

Contemporary dancing is a more modern style of dance that uses a wide range of techniques. The dance style uses movements that work with the natural placement of the body. Contemporary dance involves the use of four techniques:

• Cunningham ? this is a graceful style that uses natural movement

• Graham -  contraction, release, fall and recovery

• Limon - working with height. Fall, rebound, recovery and suspension

• Release ? uses minimum tension with efficient use of energy and breath.

Skills

Contraction

• Arch your back.

• Tuck in your stomach

• STAR Tip - act like you have just been punched in the stomach.

 Feet position

• Parallel ? Toes are facing forwards in line with the knees and hips

• Turned out ? The legs are rotated outwards from the hips therefore the toes point outward

 Pile

• Bend the knees over the toes

• Straighten the knees

• STAR Tip ? try to make the shape of a diamond

Pointed Feet

• Pointe your toes

• Arch the instep

 Flexed Feet

• Flatten the instep

• Pull your toes upward

 Social 

Description

Social dancing is a style of dance that is done for leisure and fun. It can be performed at a level that does not require competition. It can be done with friends, pairs and groups. Some styles of social dance include circle, line, ballroom, swing and square dances.

Skills

Grapevine

• Step the right foot to the right side

•  Step left foot in front of the right

• Step the right foot to the right side

•  Step left foot behind the right.

 Box Step

• Step forward with your left foot

• Step to the right with your right foot

• Slide your left foot over to your right foot and stand with your feet together

• Step back with your right foot

• Step to the left with your left foot

• Slide your right foot towards your left foot and bring your feet together

Cha Cha

• Step forward with the right foot

• Step left

• Right, left, right

• STAR  Tip- timing, 1, 2, 3 & 4 (one, two, cha, cha, cha).

Folk 

Description

Folk dance is an informal dance that can be performed during social events. It is based on European culture, but each country has its own special feature which makes it unique from other styles. Folk dance can be learnt through the observation of others, especially family. Some types of folk dance include clogging, English country dance, Irish and maypole dance.

Skills

Run over

• Swish right leg up in the air

•  Hop onto right foot

• Ball change with the left foot over the right.

Indigenous 

Description

Indigenous dance is a form of dance that tells stories which can be about communities, land, relationships and culture of the people. Props are often used to help portray the story and to provide musical background. For example boomerangs are used by Aboriginals and warups are used commonly by Torres Strait Islanders. These dances are usually performed during ceremonies commonly known as corroborees. Indigenous dances are passed through generations, which are sacred to their individual community.

Hip Hop/Funk

Description

Both hip hop and funk styles of dance are a soulful expression of movement.  This dance style relies on matching the dance steps with the beat of the music. The style began as a cultural movement in New York performed by African-Americans. Funk is a combination of hip hop, pop and street funk.

Skills

Head roll

Leaving your head facing the front, tilt your head to the right side

Dip your head further down

Then bring your head back up straight.

 Pencil turn

• Step to the right side

• Put all your weight onto the right leg

•  Whip your body around to the ride side.

•  Bring the left leg around when you turn and place it beside your right foot.

 Chris Cross Jump

• Legs shoulder width apart

• Jump in one foot behind the other

• Jump out feet shoulder width apart

• Jump in alternating feet, on foot in front of the other

 Slide

• Turn your right foot so that the toes are pointing out and the heel is in

•  Lift your right heel off the floor

• Keep your weight on the right side

• Slide your left foot away from your right foot

• Slowly lift your left heel and lower your right heel

 Harlem Shake

• Stand with your feet apart

• Raise your right shoulder and push out your left hip

• Go back to the centre

• Raise your left shoulder and push out your right hip

• Continue this motion

Kids develop knowledge, skills and understanding in composing their own dances. 

Kids also develop knowledge, skills and understanding in appreciating their own dances and those of others. 

Kids use and consider the elements of dance (action, dynamics, time, space, relationships and structure) in performing their own dances and the dances of others from different times and cultures. 

Kids gain increasing accomplishment, and develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in composing their own dances using the elements and contexts of dance.  

The contexts for learning experiences may be drawn from a variety of sources including contemporary and popular dances, social dance, modern dance, Aboriginal dance, Torres Strait Islander dance, and indigenous, folk and traditional dances of the world.