Performing Arts - Ms Stanton

Howdy all,

The year is coming to an end and, wow, time sure does fly when you’re having fun! And students have been engaging in plenty of fun dance and movement activities this term in Performing Arts!

In Prep students have been guided through a range of exercises in which they are encouraged to practise moving through a space safely. Students have been working on transforming fundamental locomotor movements and miming into creative dance movements that match the lyrics and story of a song.

Prep students using tools to enhance their balance as they engage in fundamental movements.

In Year 1/2, students have been working on coordinating movement in ways that match the tempo and mood of a variety of songs. Through movement and dance games students have been encouraged to build on simple fundamental movements to progress towards creating short dance phrases. Students have also begun to incorporate props into their dance phrases to extend their movements and to expand on their safety and spatial awareness as they move and dance amongst each other.

Year ½ students doing an improvised dance mirroring the growth of a seed into a flower.

In Year ¾ students have been progressing dance phrases into longer sequences using the Chance method developed by American choreographer Merce Cunningham. After coming up with short phrases, students used a dice to randomly determine the sequence of their dance. Students are currently rehearsing to deliver their dances in unison and exploring suitable formations to showcase each group member.

Example of dance moves that Year 3/4s are rolling the dice with.

Year ¾ students rehearsing their sequences.

In Year 5/6 students have been working together in small groups to create short music video clips that include a dance break and a story. Students have been preparing by storyboarding and planning a short, repeated sequence for their dance that features a combination of fundamental movements and shows examples of unison and canon. 

Year 5/6s rehearsing their choreography.

Example of storyboard and students setting up to film their group dance sequence.

Year 5/6s filming the story portion of their music video.

Though the year is nearly finished, the learning, performing, and fun continue! It’s been a fantastic year and we’re looking forward to a few more weeks of creating!

Sincerely,

Ms Stanton