Thursday, February 4, 2016

Beginning Explorations in Dance

Dance is a subject where students can explore the many variations and possibilities of movement.  It is open to creative choices.  Dance allows students to learn something new and personalize it through their own choices.  It invites students to make new connections between things they have already learned.

Grade 4 students have been learning various movements, such as turns, triplets, runs, swings, and leaps.  They have starting exploring ways to vary these movements.

Martha Graham serves an excellent role model for exploring the possibilities of dance movement.  Grade 4 students have read about Martha Graham's collaborative work "Appalachian Spring." Martha wanted to tell a story about the days when pioneers set off in search of new land.  People traveled west across the United States to put down roots.  In the story you'll see Martha Graham playing the part of the bride and Erik Hawkins playing the bridegroom.  The rest of the dancers play the parts of the preacher, the pioneer woman, and the four followers.

Here are some video clips for Martha Graham's "Appalachian Spring."
Appalachian Spring performed by Martha Graham Dance Company (2014)

Here's a special link to this performance with Martha Graham.  She collaborated with Aaron Copland for the musical score and Isamu Noguchi on the set.  This was filmed with a 16mm camera in 1944 with the original cast.  Sound was later dubbed into the recording.                                                      Martha Graham dances "Appalachian Spring"

We'll be exploring movement possibilities and creating our own dance pieces throughout this unit.



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