District of Columbia K–6 dance standards

Create a short improvised dance that has a beginning, middle, and end.

Explore movement that expresses a feeling, idea, or image.

Improvise movements in response to teacher-initiated stimuli that interpret music, a song, a story, or poem.

Dance using a series of non-locomotor movements including stretch (lateral and cross-lateral), swing, and spin; dance using a series of locomotor movements including hop, skip, slide, and leap.

Dance using different levels (high middle, and low), directions (forwards, backwards, right and left, and diagonals), pathways (straight, curved and circular), and shape (circle, rectangle, or angular).

Dance to a steady beat of different tempos (fast, medium, and slow)

Dance different dynamics (energy) to reflect dancing different ideas, feelings, and situations (e.g. a soft cloud, a prickly thorn bush, bounding joy).

Understand the difference between bones, muscles and joints and dance moving them in a variety of directions.

Improvise one's original movement and dance following instruction using ideas, images, and other stimuli.

Identify and dance in one's personal space (kinesphere) and respect the personal space of others.

Observe a ballet, modern dance, jazz dance, and tap dance and identify the genre of dance and title of the dance. Use dance terminology to identify solo, duet, trio, spatial directions, levels and pathways, and body parts of the head, torso, and limbs.

Sit attentively while watching a dance, applaud when it is over, and, if speaking with the performer afterwards, tell them something positive about their performance.

Observe dance and describe what is interesting in the dance and why it is interesting.

Observe dance and describe the main idea, feeling, or image of the dance.

Improvise dance to express feelings, images and ideas from music, songs, drawings, paintings, sculpture, or puppets.

Respond in dance to a wide range of stimuli (e.g. numbers or counting, pictures of animals, natural phenomenon).

Respond in dance to a story or poem read from a book.

Observe dances from different cultures and describe what is interesting about the dances.

Improvise a short dance that uses a variety of movements and has a beginning, a middle in which there is a change or issue, and an end.

Improvise using themes that express feelings, ideas, or images in dance.

Improvise dance movements based on a theme inspired from music, a song, a story, or a poem.

Dance in place using a variety of axial (non-locomotor) movements; dance through space using a variety of locomotor movements.

Dance using a variety of levels, directions, pathways, and shapes.

Dance using and repeating different rhythms of different tempos.

Identify and dance combinations of different dynamics (energy) to reflect different, ideas, feelings, and situations.

Identify the common name for bones, muscles and joints and dance moving them in a variety of movement possibilities.

Improvise movement using ideas, images, or feelings, and learn choreographed movements.

Demonstrate dancing safely without hurting oneself or disrupting the movement of others.

Observe a variety of performances and world dance genres; identify the genre, and title of each dance. Verbally describe a dance using dance terminology.

Display and discuss audience etiquette: walk quietly in the theatre, speak softly, sit attentively while watching a dance, applaud when it is over, and speak positively to performers.

Observe dance and verbally describe interesting changes in space, time, and energy.

Observe dance and verbally describe the main idea, feeling, or image of the dance and other aspects of the dance (e.g. style, costumes, and music).

Create a short improvised dance with a beginning, middle, and end that expresses feelings and ideas inspired by music, songs, drawings, paintings, sculpture, or a play.

Perform a short improvised dance about a subject learned in school (e.g. addition or subtraction, animals, history, shapes).

Perform a short improvised dance based on reading skills (e.g. the shapes of letters, the sounds of letters, the interpretation of a story or poem, the creation of a story or poem).

Perform dances from different cultures and describe what is interesting about the dances, costumes and music.

Create combinations of dance movements using changes in directions, pathways, levels, rhythms, and energy.

Create a short improvised dance that communicates a feeling or idea.

Create a short improvised dance with a partner inspired from music, a song, a story, or a poem that uses skills such as copying, leading, following, or mirror imaging.

Dance in place using a combination of axial (non-locomotor) movements; dance through space using a combination of locomotor movements.

Dance using combinations of levels, directions, pathways, and shapes.

Dance using and repeating a variety of different rhythms from different meter.

Identify and dance a change in dynamics (energy) to reflect a progression of ideas, feelings, and situations (e.g. a duck waddling on land but swimming smoothly in water, water boiling and bubbling in a pot and evaporating in the air as steam).

Understand that bones, muscles and joints align to allow for efficient movement.

Improvise dance combinations using ideas, images, or feelings, and learn choreographed dance combinations.

Demonstrate dancing safely with respect for one's body and the bodies of others.

Observe a variety of performances and world dance genres; identify the genre, title, and choreographer of each dance. Compare and contrast two or more dances using dance terminology.

Understand that the dance studio, stage, and theatre are special places for dance, and not for general play or games.

Observe dance and describe how variations in the use of space, time, and energy make the dance interesting.

Observe dance and describe how the main idea, feeling, or image of the dance is communicated through the movement and other aspects of the dance (style, costumes, and music).

Observe, perform and discuss dances that are inspired by other artistic disciplines (theatre, music, and visual art).

Create and perform dance sequences that are inspired by other core academic subject areas (social studies, math, and science)

Use literature or other written material to inspire dance ideas (e.g. narrative, poem, article).

Remember and perform dance sequences from different cultures and describe the differences and similarities between them.

Explore, reflect, select, and revise movement to solve movement problems as an impetus to create new dance sequences or phrases.

Explore, reflect, select, and revise movement to choreograph dance sequences that develop themes and ideas through the use of pantomime, gesture, and motif.

Respond to a variety of motivational stimuli in movement to communicate literal or non-literal ideas in solo, duet, and group forms.

Perform a dance movement sequence using a combination of axial (non-locomotor) movements and locomotor movements.

Perform a dance movement sequence using a variety of levels, directions, pathways, and shapes.

Perform dance movement sequences using and repeating a variety of rhythms from different meter.

Perform dance movement sequences using different dynamics (energy) to reflect different, ideas, feelings, and meanings.

Align bones, muscles and joints to allow for efficient movement.

Remember and perform choreographed dance sequences using ideas, images, or feelings.

Dance with a partner or group respecting others' kinesphere, ideas and cooperating with others.

Explore the life and work of a famous dancer or choreographer. Identify the genre in which he/she worked, and name a dance he/she choreographed or performed. Using dance terminology, describe basic movements used in his/her choreography or dancing.

Define ways in which the dance studio, stage, and theatre are special places for dance, and develop rules that respect the function of each space.

Observe dance and describe how variations in the use of space, time, and energy change from the beginning of the dance to the end of the dance.

Observe dance and describe the ideas, feelings, or images in the beginning of the dance, and how they develop to the end of the dance.

Observe a dance that uses music, scenery, and costumes and discuss how these heighten the experience of the movement.

Demonstrate knowledge of curricular concepts through dance (e.g. geometric shapes, spatial pathways and maps, functional anatomy and movement, rhythm and number patterns).

Create and perform dance phrases that are inspired by sentences, and write sentences inspired by dance phrases.

Remember and perform dances from different cultures and compare the connections or differences between one's own cultural dance and the dance from other cultures.

Create and remember a dance sequence, then manipulate and alter the sequences to create a variation.

Express one's own themes, feelings, and ideas in dance sequences and teach them to a partner or group.

Research a topic and interpret the ideas in movement.

Perform a dance phrase using a combination of axial (non-locomotor) and locomotor movements.

Perform a dance phrase using a variety of levels, directions, pathways, and shapes.

Perform dance phrases using and repeating a variety of rhythms from different meter.

Perform dance phrases using changes in dynamics (energy) to reflect different, ideas, feelings, and meaning.

Align bones, muscles and joints to allow for efficient movement, balance, flexibility, coordination, and physical control.

Remember, perform, reflect, and revise the performance of choreographed dance demonstrating focused concentration and kinesthetic awareness to improve performance.

Demonstrate ability to work safely, cooperatively, and collaboratively with other students in improvised or choreographed movement activities.

Explore the life and work of several famous dancers or choreographers and describe the personal qualities that made them outstanding. Use dance terminology to compare or contrast their choreography or performances, mentioning specific dance positions, movements, or steps that were choreographed or performed effectively.

Understand the functions of training, rehearsal, the performance, and the audience response as essential processes in creating and performing dance.

Observe dance and describe how the use of space, time, and energy develops a change from the beginning of the dance to the end of the dance.

Observe dance and analyze the development of the idea, feeling, or image from the beginning of the dance to the end of the dance. Suggest additional movement possibilities.

Observe the work of several famous choreographers and discuss how the work can relate to other artistic disciplines.

Solve movement problems that are inspired by other academic subjects (e.g. dance a verb that you do in the morning, move in the spatial pathways of the planets, create a dance based on multiplication).

Use movement to express images, ideas, situations, and feelings read in literature, poetry, or original writing.

Remember and perform with accuracy dances from different cultures or historic periods. Describe the cultural connections and differences between one's own culture or time period and the cultures expressed through the dances.

Create a short dance using a common choreographic form (such as narrative, theme and variation, ABA, canon, and call-andresponse) that is frequently used in dance.

Create and perform a short expressive dance.

Research a topic of interest and create a short dance based upon the topic.

Perform a dance that uses inventive combinations of axial (non-locomotor) and locomotor movements.

Perform a dance that uses a variety of levels, directions, pathways, and shapes.

Perform a dance that demonstrates musicality, including accuracy in moving to a musical beat and responding to changes in tempo and phrasing.

Perform a dance that uses changes in dynamics (energy) to reflect different, ideas, feelings, and meaning.

Identify anatomical terminology for major bones, muscles and joints and understand how they allow for efficient movement, balance, flexibility, coordination, and physical control.

Remember, perform, reflect, and revise the performance of choreographed dances demonstrating focused concentration, kinesthetic awareness, and responsibility for one's role in a dance.

Demonstrate safe and respectful practices and relationships during movement activities when working with a partner or group.

Explore the life and work of several famous dancers or choreographers from different dance genres. Articulate in dance terminology, either orally or in writing, the similarities and differences in the dance genres.

As an audience member, respect and honor the dancer for their devoted work in training, rehearsing, and performing dance.

Observe dance performed in several different dance genres and, either orally or in writing, compare and contrast their use of space, time, and energy.

Observe a dance and analyze how the movement fulfills the intent of the choreographer. Suggest additional movement possibilities.

Explain how dance terminology relates to and shares the vocabulary of other art subjects (such as, shape, line, positive and negative space, rhythm, and phrase.)

Create dance studies based on the relationships between dance concepts and concepts from other subjects (force and motion, the body systems, maps and grids, narrative style).

Journal the creative and artistic processes of choreographing a dance (the images and ideas to be communicated, how artistic choices were decided, problems that needed to be solved).

Explore the function of dance in daily life in different countries and historic time periods.

Create dance studies using common choreographic forms (such as narrative, theme and variation, ABA, canon, and calland-response).

Create, perform, reflect, and revise a short dance using a theme that communicates a feeling or idea.

Research a topic of interest. Create a short dance that communicates the meaning of the research. Receive response, and revise the choreography to perform and communicate more clearly.

Perform a dance and demonstrate physical control, alignment, balance, and coordination in performing locomotor and axial movements from a chosen dance genre (e.g. ballet, modern dance, jazz).

Perform a group dance that uses space inventively with great variations of facings, levels, directions, pathways, and shapes.

Perform a dance that reflects the phrasing, structure, tone, and dynamic of its accompanying music.

Perform a group dance that uses variations of dynamics (energy) to reflect the ideas, feelings, images, and meaning of the dance.

Identify major bones, muscles and joints in anatomical terminology. Understand how they function to create efficient movement, balance, flexibility, coordination, and physical control.

Remember, perform, reflect, and revise choreographed dances. Demonstrate focused concentration, kinesthetic awareness, and responsibility for one's role in a dance and the production.

Perform a group dance developing cooperative relationships with others as follower, leader, soloist, group participant.

Observe dances of several famous companies and, either orally or in writing, compare their dance styles and ideas. Identify and support personal preferences for dances observed using dance terminology.

Demonstrate knowledge of dance protocols in the dance class, rehearsal, and performance.

Apply knowledge of the elements of dance and the principles of choreography to respond verbally or in writing to an observed dance performance.

Identify and formulate criteria to assess the quality of a dance performance (e.g. originality of movement, technical skill, coherence, visual or emotional impact). Either orally or in writing, critique personal performances and performances of others.

Use concepts from other art forms to choreograph dance studies (e.g. asymmetrical design, contrapuntal rhythm, and character development).

Identify and use different resources from other academic disciplines (such as newspapers, history books, maps, poetry) to generate ideas for dance compositions.

Create and perform a dance based upon personal original writing.

Analyze dances from different cultures or historical periods in relation to the values and beliefs of their society.