Primary School Dance – 5 ways to make dance lessons engaging and fun for all.
Posted on 17/08/2017
Over the years of teaching in primary and high schools, we have taught groups of dancers ranging from those who dance over 10 hours a week at dance studios to those who don’t dance at all. There have been kids who are naturally talented movers, through to kids who have trouble moving their head in the same direction as everyone else. We teach kids in areas considered high SES through to those who are considered less fortunate. Our classes have accommodated kids in wheelchairs, with autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, developmental delays and a combination of all. These experiences are the reason we understand school dance and continue to aim to never stop learning from every day we spend in class.
We know that schools do have ‘representative’ groups of dancers that are selected through audition for performance purposes. We teach quite a few of these and love it! We also know, however, that school dance can cater for all students, regardless of circumstance or ability. Every student should have the opportunity to experience the enjoyment and benefits that come from dance.
So here are some of our top tips for fostering diversity in school dance:
1. Ensure adequate space to allow students to move freely, including those in wheelchairs or with walking frames. Movement across the room and movement that involves clapping/stomping or rhythms are effective in promoting involvement of all students as they join with their peers to create rhythms or patterns together.
2. Make the focus of the lessons not so much on technique but more about self-expression, social skills and engagement with the music or theme of a dance.
3. Any costuming should allow all students to feel included and not be bound by financial circumstance (e.g., students wear their own jeans/pants and bright top).
4. Finding the appropriate level of difficulty in a mixed ability dance class can be challenging, but layering choreography and ensuring all students are involved in different variations of the same movement will promote the best learning environment so students are suitably challenged and not bored.
5. Aim to give each student either a chance to dance at the front or to have a special ‘role’. This is where we have found in the past that students really come into their own – and has uncovered some of our favourite ‘student created’ dance moves! This promotes creativity and engagement.
Contact us today for more tips on how to implement dance effectively at your primary school! Or book a free trial to see how it's done!
