1. Dance Dance Education A Guide for Teachers to Bring Dance into Physical Education Nicole Cavallo

2. AAHPER….. D? Dance • commonly absent from Physical Education • Why ? • Teachers lack a dance background • Schools do not enforce dance curriculum • Teachers not educated in health benefits

3. What’s in it for the Students? • Promotes Cooperative Learning • Enhances Student Creativity • Fulfills Required State Goals and Standards • Expands Opportunities for Students • Enhances Cognitive Development • Promotes Student Health

4. It Takes Two to Tango Cooperative Learning in Dance Education • Relies upon group work to achieve goals • Builds social skills • Ensures participation of every student • Students learn to compromise • Students learn accountability

5. Creativity is more important than knowledge ~ Albert Einstein enhances the “creative capacities” -risk-taking and expressive freedom Dancing is the poetry of the foot

6. Fulfills State Standards • Requires proper development of motor skills • Dance develops awareness of : • Space • Direction • Time • Level • Force

7. Break Dance Not Hearts

8. An Opportunity for Discovery Dance provides students with the opportunity to… • Try something new • Discover hidden talents • Develop self confidence • Surprise themselves

9. Give Their Brains a Workout Dance Enhances Cognitive Development • Increases blood, oxygen flow to brain • Develops visual-spatial awareness • Important in letter recognition, mathematical understanding. • Fun and Engaging

10. Give Their Brains a Workout, cont. Students remember…. • 20% of what they hear • 30% of what they see • 90% of what they see, hear, say and DO!

11. For the Health of It! Dance in Physical Education… • Strengthens bones and muscles • Tones entire body • Improves posture and balance • Increases stamina and flexibility

12. For the Health of It!, cont. Dance in Physical Education… • Reduces stress and tension • Prevents obesity • Increases energy levels

13. Putting the “D” back into AAHPERD Ideas to Run With • Dance Formations • Rhythmic Activities • Cues Fresh Ideas • DDR (Dance Dance Revolution)

14. Key: Man Woman Direction Dance Formations

15. Rhythmic Equipment

16. Rhythmic Activities Students will be aware of • effect of sound on music style • Consistency of rhythm and time Teacher can help by • Clapping out the beat • Encouraging complementary rhythms

17. Cue & A Cues keep students ready for dance steps • Anticipatory –ex: “Ready….Walk” • Rhythmic-ex: “1,2,3,4” • Directional- ex: “Right, Left” • Step pattern-ex: “Slide, Close” • Combination-ex: any above examples

18. DDR Dance Dance Revolution • Currently used in several hundred schools • Reaches wide range of students • Process information and do moves • Less competitive than traditional sports • No skill required for a good workout

19. Wrapping it Up Adding Dance to curriculum • Generates interest of less athletic students • Battles childhood obesity • Promotes creativity • Less competitive activity • Makes Phys Ed more fun! See?

20. References • Putnam, Mary (2008). Handbook for Rhythmic Activities and Forms. Rowan University. • Schiesel, Seth. “P.E. Classes Turn to Video Game That Works Legs.” The New York Times. 10/20/2009. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/health/30exer.html>