History of Dance Teacher Resources

Scholars listen to several pieces of music in preparation for a discussion about how instruments and lyrics convey emotions. With Harriet Tubman as the focus, small groups create an original song or dance. A reflection piece concludes...

Zoe dances to stay healthy. She does ballet because when she dances she moves her whole body. Use this video to help incorporate a rhythmic movement through dancing into the daily routine of your primary learners.

A kid raps and dances with his family. He dances with his dad, mom, and little sister. This is a great way to introduce the idea of family dancing to your littlest learners. Have them draw or write a song about their families or plan a...

Exposing younger students to fine art enriches their learning experience and opens them up to a different mode of self-expression. Elmo and Zoe attend and narrate a ballet at the Dance Theater of Harlem. Show your class a similar ballet...

Murray visits an Irish step dancing school in this film. Learners will love talking about this interesting form of dancing. They can even give step dancing a try.

One, two, three. One, two, three. Invite your language learners to practice the steps for researching and presenting information. Each small group has the task of explaining one Latin dance in full detail.

Erin go bragh! Enliven your St. Patrick's Day celebration by teaching your class members some of the combinations found in traditional Irish step dancing.

Grover shows how peacocks move. His friends from China dress and dance like peacocks. Have your little learners observe bird movements and create a dance of their own.

What's more fun than an all night demon dance party? Kathakali, a type of Indian drama and dance, is the topic of an informational video. Viewers gain an understanding of the history behind the style, as well as witness examples of...

Young musicians experience song, dance, and play of the Jamaican culture. Scholars listen for and recreate beats, they play tunes, make up original dances, and play a game that challenges pupils to pass stones to a specific beat.

Just exactly what is social dancing? What does social dancing have to do with the African American community and African American history? The narrator of this short video explains how social dancing can support the culture of a...

Students explore the oral traditions. In this storytelling instructional activity, students compare and contrast stories from the cultural traditions of Alaska and Hawaii.

The evolution of modern dance, and the dance history of many of the key figures in the development of this uniquely American form, are the focus of a 13-page packet that includes photos of revolutionaries.

Students watch a video of a performance choreographed by Paul Taylor. They research the Great Depression and issues facing teenagers today. They create a dance that shows a historic period of the United States.

What is Tinikling? How is this word pronounced? Is it really a dance? Where did it originate? Is there a story about the origin of this dance? Begin this dance instructional activity by answering these questions. Then use the video to...

All cultures express similar thoughts, feelings, and ideas. But, often times those things are expressed differently. Learners compare and contrast traditional dances from two cultures. They watch videos of each performance, stop to...

Nearly every people group has some type of dance, and those dances usually reflect history and culture. Little researchers write an essay on the cultural significance of the Hawaiian hula dance. They research the role of the hula dancer...

Believe it or not, ancient Romans had a sense of humor—although it may have been a bit absurd. The fifth video in the Crash Course Theater series discusses the evolution of Roman drama, incorporating images and animations to help bring...

Jamie Foxx and Elmo sing and dance to the music of the Nutcracker in this snazzy film. The original music has been updated to an appealing jam. It is a fun film to show during the holiday season.

Young scholars investigate their family history through pictures and writing. In this family history lesson plan, students research family, culture, food, music, religion, and clothing. Young scholars gather pictures of their family and...

Students perform square dancing steps. In this square dancing lesson, students view a video to learn the basic steps.  Students discuss the history of the dance and perform with partners. 

Learn two dances that your class can perform at a Cinco De Mayo school celebration. This is really an outline and would be better used if there were plans for how to teach the dance steps. The idea is good to teach the cultural...

Different people fall asleep different ways. Michael (Mr. Noodles) dances himself to sleep. He sings and dances himself to sleep with help from the boogy-woogy sheep. How do you fall asleep? Have children draw a picture and write a...

Students prepare and organize a cultural celebration of African migration and immigration. Working in groups or individually, they research topics and present the information, including dance demonstrations, instrumental or vocal...