Florida K–6 dance standards

Associate and identify words of action or feeling with watching or performing simple dances.

Perform creative movement in a specific order.

Explore movement possibilities to solve problems by experiencing tempo, level, and directional changes.

Express preferences from among a teacher-selected set of dances.

Create free-form dances, using manipulatives, which are personally pleasing and show exploration and imagination.

Follow classroom instructions given by the teacher.

Dance to music from a wide range of cultures.

Improvise a short phrase based on the elements of dance.

Improvise a short dance phrase with a clear beginning and ending.

Use movement to express a feeling, idea, or story.

Respond to a dance through movement and words.

Discover movement through exploration, creativity, and imitation.

Discover new ways to move by using imitation and imagery.

Follow classroom directions.

Retain simple sequences and accurate dance terminology over time.

Refine gross- and fine-locomotor skills through repetition.

Imitate simple exercises for strengthening and stretching the body.

Develop kinesthetic awareness by maintaining personal space and moving in pathways through space.

Move to various musical and rhythmic accompaniments, responding to changes in tempo and dynamics.

Identify and respond to the feelings expressed in movement pieces.

Repeat simple movements from verbal cueing.

Make movement choices, using one or more given elements, to complete a short phrase.

Share personal opinions on selected movement pieces, recognizing that individual opinions often vary.

Create dances, with or without manipulatives, which imitate animated shapes, letters, animals, and/or storybook characters.

Follow directions given by the teacher or by peers in small groups.

Practice children's dances from around the world.

Perform movement that infuses music, language, and numbers.

Experiment with given elements to develop knowledge of their characteristics.

Demonstrate awareness of expectations in class and at informal performances.

Select and apply a change in tempo or level to transform the meaning, feeling, or look of a movement or phrase.

Create movement phrases to express a feeling, idea, or story.

Use accurate dance terminology to describe specified movements and shapes.

Discover movement through exploration, creativity, self-discovery, and experimentation in dance.

Explore how body parts move by using imitation and imagery.

Listen attentively and follow directions when learning movement skills and sequences.

Practice simple dance sequences with assistance.

Perform simple movements on both sides of the body.

Imitate basic body postures and maintain a pose in a held stance.

Repeat simple body movements to strengthen and stretch the body.

Practice moving body parts in and through space to develop coordination.

Demonstrate acuity in transferring given rhythmic patterns from the aural to the kinesthetic.

Explore, manipulate, and manage concepts of personal and general space by moving in different levels and directions.

Explain, using accurate dance terminology, how teacher-specified elements of dance are used in a phrase or dance piece.

Demonstrate listening, observing, and following skills while learning dance movements; and perform them with the teacher and alone.

Express creatively, using pictures, symbols, and/or words, the meaning or feeling of a dance piece.

Decide which of two movements will express a desired result.

Share personal opinions about a dance piece, using a mix of accurate dance and non-dance terminology.

Create dances that interpret animals and storybook or other imagined characters.

Follow directions given by the teacher or peers, and work successfully in small-group, cooperative settings.

Perform a variety of dances to explore their origins, cultures, and themes.

Create a dance phrase using numbers, shapes, and patterns.

Describe connections between creating in dance and creating in other content areas.

Identify the elements of dance in planned and improvised dance pieces to show early awareness of structure.

Identify and practice specified procedures and etiquette in dance class and at performances.

Change the feeling, meaning, or look of a movement phrase by altering the elements of dance.

Use movement to interpret feelings, stories, pictures, and songs.

Describe a dancer or dance piece using words, pictures, or movements.

Demonstrate basic movement through kinesthetic exploration.

Explore dance sequences by creating and imitating images that move through space.

Follow body-part initiation through space to increase kinesthetic awareness.

Demonstrate focus and concentration while listening to instructions and observing others' movement.

Demonstrate simple dance sequences to show memorization and presentation skills.

Follow and repeat movement on opposite sides of the body.

Replicate basic positions with clear body lines and correct alignment.

Perform bending and reaching exercises to increase strength, stamina, flexibility, and range of motion.

Repeat given movements to show coordination between body parts.

Maintain a demonstrated rhythm in time to musical accompaniment.

Maintain balance in basic positions and in shifting weight through plié.

Identify one or more elements and, using accurate dance terminology, discuss how they are used to shape a piece into a dance.

Learn movement quickly and accurately through application of learning strategies.

Identify and demonstrate changes made in various elements of a movement piece.

Apply knowledge of basic elements of dance to identify examples in a dance piece.

Share and apply feedback to improve the quality of dance movement.

Examine one element of a dance piece and judge how well it expressed or supported the given intent.

Create dance pieces that interpret characters from stories, poems, and other literature sources.

Be on time and prepared for classes, and work successfully in small- and large-group cooperative settings, following directions given by the teacher or peers.

Practice and perform social, cultural, or folk dances, using associated traditional music, to identify commonalities and differences.

Discuss the roles that dance has played in various social, cultural, and folk traditions.

Create and perform a dance, inspired by developmentally appropriate literature, stories, or poems, that has a beginning, middle, and end.

Identify connections between the skills required to learn dance and the skills needed in other learning environments.

Relate how the elements of dance are applied in classwork to how they are used in dance pieces.

Identify the procedures and structures common to dance classes.

Select an element to change within a phrase and discuss the results.

Translate words, pictures, or movements into dance to express ideas or feelings.

Use accurate dance terminology to respond to and communicate about dance.

Share, using accurate dance terminology, ways in which dance communicates its meaning to the audience.

Create movement to express feelings, images, and stories.

Respond to improvisation prompts, as an individual or in a group, to explore new ways to move.

Explore positive and negative space to increase kinesthetic awareness.

Create dance sequences, based on expanded, everyday gestures and/or movements.

Explain why focus and cooperation are important in class and performance.

Learn and repeat movement using observation and listening skills.

Practice simple dance movements on both sides and facing in different directions.

Use learning strategies to remember movement between classes and rehearsals.

Demonstrate appropriate posture with strength in the abdomen and length in the spine.

Perform safe practice exercises for increasing strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

Perform far-reach exercises to demonstrate knowledge of the use of line in movement.

Identify and demonstrate an understanding of the elements of time.

Maintain center line of balance in place, in transfer of weight, and while changing levels.

Execute a movement sequence, in and through space, with a specific expression.

Rehearse movements and dance sequences to develop coordination and agility in muscular groups.

Create a tableau, theme, or main idea in a dance piece to explore the potential of shapes and space.

Learn and produce short movement sequences, assisted by the teacher, using observation, imitation, and musical cues.

Identify points within a dance piece at which mood, character, or meaning change abruptly or evolve.

Apply knowledge of the basic elements of dance to suggest changes in a movement piece.

Demonstrate the ability to participate in objective feedback sessions as a means of evaluating one's own and others' work.

Evaluate a dance by examining how effectively two or more elements were used in the piece.

Collaborate with others to create dance pieces that show innovative movement options.

Describe the various roles and responsibilities of careers in dance.

Be on time, prepared, and focused in classes, and share skills and ideas with peers appropriately.

Perform dances from different cultures, emulating the essential movement characteristics and traditions.

Discuss why people of various ages and cultures dance and how they benefit from doing so.

Identify and examine important figures, historical events, and trends that have helped shape dance.

Create a dance with student-selected components from other content areas and/or personal interests.

Use improvisation and movement studies to explore concepts from other content areas.

Describe how dance and music can each be used to interpret and support the other.

Describe how the elements of dance are used in class and in dance pieces.

Describe how the procedures and structures in a dance class help create a positive and healthful environment for learning.

Investigate the positions, initiations, and movements within a given step.

Experiment with a dance phrase by using a variety of elements to create a variation on the original work.

Describe how the contributions of one or more selected innovators changed a particular genre or dance form.

Express ideas through movements, steps, and gestures.

Use accurate dance terminology as a means of asking questions, discussing dances, and learning new dance pieces.

Respect varying interpretations of a dance, recognizing that viewer perspectives may be different.

Create movement sequences that are personally meaningful and/or express an idea.

Improvise to music, using choreographic principles, and match tempo, phrasing, style, and emotion.

Use kinesthetic awareness to explore movement in personal space and relative to other dancers.

Change isolations, level, direction, or tempo to explore movement choices.

Display attention, cooperation, and focus during class and performance.

Recall and perform movement in short sequences to improve memorization and speed of replication.

Replicate movement sequences on opposite sides of the body or in the opposite direction.

Demonstrate application and memorization of corrections given by the teacher.

Observe and practice appropriate alignment of the torso, arms, and legs in a given dance sequence, using assisted correction, allegory, and/or imagery to support understanding and successful repetition.

Identify weaknesses in personal strength, flexibility, and range of motion, and apply basic, safe practice exercises to address the need.

Practice weight shift and transitions through plié, élévation, piqué, and chassé.

Replicate timing, rhythm, and accents demonstrated by the teacher and peers.

Maintain center of balance in various positions.

Practice varying expression and intention by moving in dance sequences using direct and indirect space and active and passive energy.

Repeat dance sequences with increasing speed and articulation to develop agility and coordination.

Identify and discuss, using background knowledge of structure and personal experience, concepts and themes in dance pieces.

Learn and produce movement sequences, assisted by the teacher, with speed and accuracy.

Demonstrate the use of time, space, effort, and energy to express feelings and ideas through movement.

Visualize and experiment with a variety of potential solutions to a given dance problem and explore the effects of each option.

Demonstrate the ability to share objective, positive feedback and constructive criticism, and apply suggested changes with the guidance of others.

Critique a dance piece using established criteria.

Evaluate the effectiveness of combining other works of art with specified works of dance.

Evaluate the impact of technology on a specified work of dance.

Incorporate creative risk-taking when improvising or developing a dance phrase.

Identify dance and dance-related businesses in the community and describe their impact.

Show leadership by sharing ideas or by demonstrating or teaching skills to others.

Share and perform dances from diverse cultural or historical backgrounds and describe their significance within their original context.

Describe the dances, music, and authentic costumes from specified world cultures.

Describe historical developments and the continuing evolution of various dance forms.

Classify a dance performance or repertoire piece by origin, genre, or period.

Create a dance, inspired by another art form, which shows one or more connections between the two disciplines.

Demonstrate how math and science concepts may be used in dance.

Describe how the self-discipline required in dance training can be applied to other areas of study.

Perform a movement study based on a personal interpretation of a work of art.

Identify the use of world languages in various dance genres.

Analyze individual elements of a choreographic work to determine how they comprise the structure of a dance piece.

Review and apply the procedures and structures of class and performance to gain respect for their purposes and the traditions of the discipline.

Identify and explain the positions and movements within a given step or combination.

Make one or more revisions to a given dance phrase and explain how the meaning or feeling was altered.

Identify ways in which dance innovators contributed to new directions in the art form.

Practice movements, steps, pantomime, and gestures as a means of communicating ideas or intent without using words.

Use accurate dance terminology as a means of identifying, communicating, and documenting movement vocabulary.

Use accurate dance terminology and/or movement vocabulary to respond to movement based on personal ideas, values, or point of view.

Apply choreographic principles to create dance steps or sequences.

Demonstrate dynamic changes in response to one or more sources.

Manipulate given elements of a phrase to produce variations and expand movement choices.

Use kinesthetic awareness to respond to shared movement with one or more dancers.

Demonstrate the ability to focus and maintain presence during dance classes and performances.

Practice purposefully, over time, to improve technique and performance in a choreographed piece.

Follow and repeat movement on the opposite side of the body or in reverse order.

Adapt and apply ensemble corrections to personal work.

Demonstrate basic posture, engage abdominal muscles, lengthen the spine, and show awareness of shoulder-to-hip line.

Increase strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the joints based on an awareness of safe practices and knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology.

Practice shifting weight from one leg to another using space and various levels and shapes.

Perform a phrase that uses complex changes in rhythms and meters.

Apply understanding of support, weight placement, and center of gravity to attain balance.

Change the expression or intention of a given dance sequence by applying two contrasting dynamic elements.

Dissect dance sequences to understand how movement is initiated, articulated, and practiced, and to develop agility and coordination.

Explore the use of sagittal, vertical, and horizontal line.

Examine and discuss exemplary works to gain ideas for creating dance studies with artistic intent.

Process, sequence, and demonstrate new material quickly and accurately with energy, expression, and clarity.

Evaluate, using personal and established criteria, how choreographic structures and/or production elements were designed to impact mood or aesthetic value within a dance piece.

Identify and discuss the function and importance of physical and cognitive rehearsal in the retention, recall, and performance of movement.

Solve challenges in technique and composition by visualizing and applying creative solutions.

Reflect on critiques from a variety of sources to improve technique and the creative process, and to make decisions about one's work.

Analyze an artist's work, using selected criteria, and describe its effectiveness in communicating meaning and specific intent.

Evaluate key elements observed in historically significant, exemplary works of dance.

Interpret and respond to works by master choreographers who used innovative technology and integrated information from non-dance content areas.

Explore use of technology as a tool for creating, refining, and responding to dance.

Practice creative risk-taking through dance improvisation and performance.

Explain the roles of dance production personnel.

Identify local or regional resources to understand their importance to dancers.

Demonstrate leadership, preparedness, and adaptability by sharing ideas or teaching skills to others in small and large groups.

Investigate and make use of a broad array of resources to update and strengthen skills and/or knowledge in the field.

Prepare auditions and audition skills for schools, companies, and/or commercial work in dance.

Maintain documentation of dance-related activities, including a repertory sheet, to prepare for résumé-writing.

Describe basic functions of skeletal and muscular systems.

Research and reference common dance injuries.

Identify and execute characteristic rhythms in dances representing one or more cultures.

Research and discuss the influence that social dances have had on the development of classical, theatrical, modern, and contemporary dance genres.

Discuss issues related to plagiarism and appropriation of choreographic works and other intellectual property.

Analyze dance in various cultural and historical periods, and discuss how it has changed over time.

Compare the roles of dance in various cultures.

Predict, using one's imagination and knowledge of history and technology, how dance may be designed and/or presented in the future.

Demonstrate response and reaction, through movement sequences, to various sources of inspiration.

Compare elements and principles of composition with elements and principles of other art forms.

Use knowledge of the body, acquired in dance, science, and/or physical education, to improve health and strength.

Create or perform a dance piece using ideas and principles common to dance and another art form.

Practice using world languages and accurate dance terminology suitable to each dance genre.

Compare characteristics of two dance forms.

Demonstrate, without prompting, procedures expected in class, rehearsal, and performance with independence.

Dissect a dance step or combination to reveal the underlying steps, positions, related steps, and possible variations.

Explain the order and purpose of a logical and healthful dance class.

Identify, define, and give examples of the elements of dance and/or principles of design to show how they give structure to a dance piece.

Create a dance phrase and revise one or more elements to add interest and diversity to the piece.

Explain how the innovations of selected dance pioneers transformed specified dance genres.

Research and discuss examples of dance performed in venues other than the conventional proscenium theater and analyze how they were adapted to fit the space.

Express concrete and abstract concepts through dance using ideas and experiences of personal significance.

Create physical images to communicate the intent of a movement, phrase, or dance piece.

Record dance sequences using accurate dance terminology to identify movements, positions, and shapes.

Research existing methods of recording or documenting dance as a way of sharing and preserving it.

Use accurate dance, theatre, and anatomical terminology to communicate with others in and related to the field of dance.

Explore dance phrases to investigate choreographic principles and structures.

Experiment with improvisational exercises to develop creative risk-taking capacities.

Analyze the possibilities and limitations of the body through short dance sequences.

Use kinesthetic knowledge to demonstrate knowledge of partnering and movement relationships between two or more dancers.

Sustain focused attention, respect, and discipline during classes and performances.

Memorize and replicate movement sequences with speed and accuracy in class or audition settings.

Explore the complexity of sequencing through reversing and reordering movement sequences.

Transfer corrections or concepts from the execution of one class exercise to another.

Rehearse to improve the performance quality of dance pieces.

Use and maintain principles of alignment in locomotor and non-locomotor movements.

Develop strength, stamina, flexibility, and range of motion through safe practices and knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology.

Apply the mechanics of movement transitions and weight changes.

Perform, using dance technique, with musical accuracy and expression.

Perform a variety of movements while vertical, off-vertical, or balancing on one leg.

Change the expression or intention of a dance sequence by manipulating one or more dynamic elements.

Practice a variety of dance sequences to increase agility and coordination in movement patterns.

Develop and demonstrate a sense of line that is appropriate to the style of a given dance form.