Delivering an Introduction to Dance Classes
Tutor’s Guide on Teaching an Introductory Lesson on Dancing
Aug 25, 2009
Dance means many things to different people and to different cultures. Furthermore, dance has different associations within the same cultural group. Crystallising its definition is a good starting point for students wishing to pursue dance as a career.
The Meaning of Dance
The dance teacher might begin by asking the students via a brainstorming session what dance means to them. Such a teaching strategy might require some prompting at first, but ideas often flow after a few suggestions have been transcribed onto the whiteboard. Obvious words such as “movement,” “rhythm” and “steps,” might precede less obvious suggestions such as “Njinsky” and spatial awareness.” This is likely to stimulate a discussion within the group and a question and answer session.
Dance’s Definition
At this point, the teacher might open a short lecture with a quote from an authoritative source and present it to the students. Judith Hanna Ph.D senior research scholar for the departments of Dance and Anthropology in the University of Maryland, was quoted as saying that dance is: “Culturally patterned sequences of nonverbal body movements that are purposeful, intentionally rhythmic, and have aesthetic value in the eyes of those for whom the dancer is performing.” [To Dance is Human: a Theory of Nonverbal Communication, Judith Hanna, University of Chicago Press, 1973].
Dance From a Purist’s View
The contemporary choreographer Merce Cunningham isolated the definition of dance by exploring movement without interference. He would watch how insects moved under the microscope and observe the movement of animals in zoos. He did not believe in the “contamination” of accompanying music, backdrops, costumes or storyline. He was interested only in movement in it purest form. Further, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Russian American dancer and choreographer, believed that dancing should be viewed from a linguist’s view, in that the progressing dancer must constantly add more movements to his repertoire insomuch as a scholar must broaden his vocabulary.
Evaluating What Dance Means
With these authoritative ideas and quotations in mind, the students must seek their own definition of what dance means within a summary of one paragraph containing two to three sentences. Such prescriptive guidelines require much thought. A thesaurus will come in handy, as will a transcription of the brainstormed words on the whiteboard. It is important that the students put the summary into their own words and to place it in a prominent place within their course work. Reciting an authoritative definition is less likely to stimulate cognitive thought or to encourage meaningful learning for each student as creating their own.
Cognitive Learning for Dance Students
Each definition must:
- Be in the student’s own words
- Be grammatically correct
- Make sense
- Encompass the meaning of dance
Summarising What Dance Means
Formulating a summary of what dance means will help students embark upon dance whilst retaining their own definition. Combining a brainstorming session with an authoritative definition is likely to encourage cognitive thought processes and a more meaningful summary. Placing their definitions in a prominent place, such as the front of their course books provides an umbrella for the associated topics that will be covered within.
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