Dance Technique I                Dance Technique II                Dance Technique III & IV                Dance At a Glance WebQuest

 

Dance Technique I
Showcase a Dancer or Choreographer
60pts


Congratulations!  You have been awarded to showcase a dancer or choreographer of your choice.  This pamphlet will be handed out to thousands of artists alike and audience members prior to a performance to honor this artist.  It is your job to highlight the choreographer's or dancer's life including: birth, death, history of the artist, talents, achievements, awards, and anything else you may find interesting to its reader.  Include the information below using a three fold publicity flyer. You will use Publisher 98.  Good luck and once again, Congratulations!

1. Name of Artist
2. Birth and Death if relevant
3. What style of dance is the dancer or choreographer know for performing or creating?  Name two dance roles or dances choreographed by the artist.
4. Background/ History of the Artist (i.e. birthplace, childhood exposure to dance)
5. History of Training- Name of School(s), workshops/seminars, location of the school, levels, years of study
6. Scholarships, Awards and/or Achievements granted and/or certain roles performed
7.  Currently- What is this artist doing now? What dance company is this artist currently working with? Does this artist teach?
8.  Highlight- include a quote from a magazine or newspaper highlighting the dancer or choreographer
9. Images- Be sure to include six images (not clipart) of the artist and/or work related to the artist in your pamphlet
10. Other- include anything else you feel may be interesting or exciting to the reader

Assignment's Rubric

                                        _____    Name
                                        _____    Birth/Death
                                        _____    Names of dances choreographed or roles  performed
                                        _____    History/background of Artist
                                        _____    Training/Study
                                        _____    Any Awards
                                        _____    Quote highlighting artist
                                        _____    Six images

                                                         Dance Theory Home page

 

 

Dance Technique II
A Dance School Brochure
65pts.
Congratulations!  You have been selected to create this year's dance school publicity brochure. This brochure will be used to promote our dance studio.  We will passed out on the busy streets of the city, bus stops, train stations and mailed to already enrolled students. So be sure to create an eye catching, informative and flashy brochure. 
Include the information below by researching a school of your choice and using a three fold publicity flyer. You will use Publisher 98.  Good luck and once again, Congratulations!

1. Name of School
2. Address
3. Telephone Number
4. Name of the Artistic Director &/or Director of the School
5. Attention Getter/ Heading
6. Two or Three teacher bios; include their photos
7. Include four benefits to studying dance
8. A class schedule
9. Price per class 
10. Dress Code & rules
11.Audition and registration information.  Is there an audition to take dance at this school?
12.Anything else that you think would encourage children, young adults and/or adults to sign-up for dance classes, i.e.any performing opportunities, scholarships, summer workshops, and/or guest teachers at the school?  If so, include the info (date, name, dance style, price)
 

Dance Companies and Schools

 

Assignment's Rubric

  • Degree to which the student demonstrates effort, focus and organization- 5   4   3   2   1   0
  • Degree to which the student demonstrates an original and creativit brochure that is informative and pleasing to the eye- 5   4   3   2   1   0
  • Degree to which the student makes wise decissions to design a visually interesting and well-balanced brochure (i.e. color choices, positioning of images and text, shadows, bold, fonts etc.) - 5   4   3   2   1   0
  • Degree to which the student includes all the requirements: 5   4   3   2   1   0 each

                                                                                 _____    Name
                                                                                 _____    Address & Telephone 
                                                                                 _____    School's Director
                                                                                 _____    Teachers Biographies
                                                                                 _____    Attention Getter/Quote
                                                                                 _____    Benefits of Dance
                                                                                 _____    Class Price
                                                                                 _____    Class Schedule
                                                                                 _____     Registration Information
                                                                                 _____     Dress Codes & Rules

                                                             Home page
 
 

                      Dance Schools & Publicity Flyer

 

Dance Technique III
Create a Publicity Flyer
60pts

Congratulations!  You have been awarded the opportunity to create a publicity flyer for a major dance company.  You will see your advertisement posted throughtout the city, on busses, marquees, billboards and more.  Pick a dance company of your choice and include the following information on your flyer.  Congratulations again and we can't wait to see your award winning publicity flyer.  Good Luck.

       Requirements

  • Name of the Dance Company
  • Date & Time
  • Place- Name a theatre in Chicago or another main city
  • Ticket Information- price, number to call, reservations
  • Title of the Show (i.e. Annual Spring Gala, Repertory Concert, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake etc.)
  • Artistic Director Name(s)
  • The Program- list one or two featured dances performing at the event; include the title of the dance, the choreographer's name, the composer, the title of the music and the date it first premiered
  • Attention Getter- include a quote or fact about the company that will excite possible audience members.  This fact or quote most be documented from an actual newspaper, magazine, and/or a professional dancer or choreographer.
  • Artwork- use one or two images from the dance company's webpage 

      Assignment's Rubric

  • Degree to which the student demonstrates effort, focus and organization- 5   4   3   2   1   0
  • Degree to which the student demonstrates creativity and originality- 5   4   3   2   1   0
  • Degree to which the student uses design to create a visually interesting publicity flyer (i.e. color choices, positioning of images and text, shadows, bold, fonts etc.) - 5   4   3   2   1   0
  • Degree to which the student includes each requirement: 5   4   3   2   1   0 each

                                                                                 _____      Company's Name
                                                                                 _____      Date, Time
                                                                                  _____     Chicago Theatre Name or other major city                                                                                             theatre
                                                                                  _____      Title of the Show
                                                                                  _____      Artistic Director's name
                                                                                  _____      Program Information
                                                                                  _____      Quote or Fact from a reasonable source
                                                                                  _____      One or Two images

Homepage 

 

 

A Glance at Dance Through Time

 

Introduction

 Task Process Resources Assessment

Conclusion

 

Introduction

Congratulations! The National Endowment for the Arts has hired you and members of your talent agency to choreograph the opening dance for this year’s  Oscar's Award Ceremony.  This year’s theme is “Dancing Through Time.”  Your talent agency should select a time in history to choreograph a dance that is reflective of its time period. You and your agency will perform this dance for the board members of the N.E.A. for approval.  In addition to performing, your agency is responsible for portraying this time in history through choreography, costumes, a backdrop and music.                                

 Task

In groups of three, pick a time era to study.  Once you have decided which era you will be studying, you may begin your research.  You will need to answer specific questions, create a collage to be used as a backdrop, find music to choreograph a dance, and present an idea for a costume; all which represent a time period  in history.  At the end of this assignment you will be able to identify  specific events in history, recognize dances and music of a specific time era, choreograph a dance reflective of its time period, perform for the class and have a visual example of a costume and a backdrop.

 Process

1) Search and explore the web for different time periods. Pick one to research.

2) Answer questions 1-10 listed below

2.) Create a collage using photos, quotes or facts about the time period.

3)  Listen to music and choose a song to choreograph to.

4)  Choreograph a 30-45 second dance that represents the movement style of that era.

5)  Design a costume that resembles the clothing style during that time in history. Creating a visual for the class.

6)  Introduce your time period to the class, share your research, visual aides and perform your dance for the class.

 

Questions to answer about dance during its specific time in history.

1)    What time era will you be studying?

2)     Does this time era have a “name?”  If so, what? How did it get this name?

3)    What significant events took place during this time in history ?

4)    What were some of the fads and trends of its time?

5)    Explain the family unit and social graces practiced by the general public?

6)    What dances were people dancing?  What steps were people dancing?

7)    Why did people dance? Did dance serve a  role other than to dance? 

8)    Where did people dance? Names of clubs, ballrooms etc.

9)    What music did people dance to? Name a specific song, or a group.

10)    Name one or two influential dancer (s) during this time period?  What did they do?

print questions here

Resources

 

                                         1900-1910                                          1920's

                                         Ragtime                                                          Charleston

                                              Irene and Vernon Castle                                  Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers

 

                                          1940’s                                               1950'

                                           The Lindy Hop                                                Rock-n-Roll,         The Madison

                                          East Coast Swing                                            The Hokey Pokey,  The Hand Jive

 

                                           1960's                                                1970's

                                         The Watusi                                                     The Hustle        The Electric Slide

                                        The Hitch Hiker                                               Saturday Night Fever    

                                              The Chicken Dance                    

                                                                                           

                                                                                 1980's

                                                                                                Breakdance & Poppin

                                                                                                MC Hammer  Michael Jackson

Assessment/Rubric

Performance & Presentation

I.          Degree to which the group completes the webquest questions, presents the material in an organized manner and showcases two well designed visuals-

             1) a proposed costume design, 2) a collage of events, quotes or photos to be used as a backdrop, to the class.

II.         Degree to how well the performer/s perform the choreography full out, (confidence, full body, focus,)

III.       Degree to which, the choreographers use classroom time efficiently, both in the computer lab and in rehearsal, explores new

             movements, refines choreography, and solves problems in innovative ways. 

Choreography Elements

I.          Degree to which, the dancers explore movements from it's time period and demonstrate proper steps.

II.        Degree to which there is a strong, beginning, middle and end.

III.      Degree to which the choreography is harmonious throughout the dance and demonstrates use of design, balance and problem solving.

IV.        Degree to which the dancers choreograph a dance that is reflective of its time period and demonstrates artistic craft and organization.

V.          Degree to which the dancers count the music correctly, demonstrates musical visualization and is appropriate to its time in history.

Conclusion

Once you have finished this webquest you will better understand social dance during another time in history and any significant roles it may or may not have played.  Why do you think social dancing has changed throughout time?  How is dancing different today than from the past?  What are some rules of etiquette or social graces that are not practiced today?  Why do you think this is so?    What are some rules of etiquette practiced today? Lastly, do you have any suggestions on how to improve this lesson or ways of making it better?  If so, how? Did you come across any really cool websites?  If so, what?  Thank you for all your hard work and good luck on your presentation!