Illinois K–6 dance standards

Recognize and name an emotion that is experienced when watching, improvising, or performing dance and relate it to a personal experience.

Observe a work of art. Describe and then express through movement something of interest about the artwork and ask questions for discussion concerning the artwork.

Describe or demonstrate the movements in a dance that was watched or performed.

Respond in movement to a variety of stimuli (for example, music/sound, text, objects, images, symbols, observed dance).

Explore different ways to do basic locomotor and non-locomotor movements by changing at least one of the elements of dance.

Improvise dance that has a beginning, middle, and end.

Express an idea, feeling, or image, through improvised movement moving alone or with a partner.

Apply suggestions for changing movement through guided improvisational experiences.

Depict a dance movement by drawing a picture or using a symbol.

Make still and moving body shapes that show lines (for example, straight, bent, curved), changes levels, and vary in size (large/small). Join with others to make a circle formation and work with others to change its dimensions.

Demonstrate tempo contrasts with movements that match the tempo of sound stimuli.

Identify and apply different characteristics to movements (for example, slow, smooth, wavy).

Demonstrate same side and cross-body locomotor and non-locomotor movements, body patterning movements, and body shapes.

Move safely in general space and start and stop on cue during activities, group formations, and creative explorations while maintaining personal space.

Move body parts in relation to other body parts and repeat and recall movements upon request.

Dance for others in a designated space.

Select a prop to use as part of a dance.

Identify a movement that repeats in a dance.

Demonstrate and repeat observed or performed dance movements.

Observe movement and use simple dance terminology to describe it.

Select a movement observed in a dance. Demonstrate the movement and explain why it was selected.

Find an experience expressed or portrayed in a dance that relates to a familiar experience. Identify the movements that communicate this experience.

Observe a work of art. Discuss observations and identify ideas for dance movement and demonstrate the big ideas.

Watch and/or perform a dance from a different culture and discuss or demonstrate the types of movement danced.

Explore movement inspired by a variety of stimuli (for example, music/sound, text, objects, images, symbols, observed dance, experiences) and identify the source.

Explore a variety of locomotor and nonlocomotor movements by experimenting with and changing the elements of dance.

Improvise a series of movements that have a beginning, middle, and end. Describe movement choices.

Choose movements that express an idea or emotion or follow a musical phrase.

Apply suggestions for changing movement through guided improvisational experiences.

Depict several different types of movements of a dance by drawing a picture or using a symbol (for example, jump, turn, slide, bend, reach).

Demonstrate locomotor and nonlocomotor movements that change body shapes, levels, and facings. Move in straight, curved, and zigzagged pathways. Find and return to place in space. Move with others to form straight lines and circles.

Relate quick, moderate, and slow movements to duration in time. Recognize steady beat and move to varying tempi of steady beat.

Demonstrate movement characteristics along with movement vocabulary.

Demonstrate a range of locomotor and nonlocomotor movements, body patterning, body shapes, and directionality.

Move safely in general space and start and stop on cue during activities, group formations, and creative explorations while maintaining personal space.

Modify movements and spatial arrangements upon request.

Perform a dance for others that conveys an idea, feeling, experience, image, or story.

Explore the use of simple props or scenery to enhance performance.

Identify a movement that repeats in a dance to make a pattern.

Demonstrate observed or performed dance movements from a specific genre or culture.

Select movements from a dance that suggest ideas and use simple dance terminology to explain how the movement captures the idea.

Identify and demonstrate several movements in a dance that attracted attention. Describe the characteristics that make the movements interesting and talk about why they were chosen.

Describe, create, and/or perform a dance that expresses personal meaning and explain how certain movements express this personal meaning.

Respond to a dance work using an inquiry-based set of questions (for example, See-Think wonder). Create movement using ideas from responses and explain how certain movements express a specific idea.

Observe a dance and relate the movement to the people or environment in which the dance was created and performed.

Explore movement inspired by a variety of stimuli (for example, music/sound, text, objects, images, symbols, observed dance, experiences) and suggest additional sources for movement ideas.

Combine a variety of movements while manipulating the elements of dance.

Improvise a dance phrase with a beginning, a middle that has a main idea, and a clear end.

Choose movements that express a main idea or emotion or follow a musical phrase. Explain reasons for movement choices.

Explore suggestions and make choices to change movement from guided improvisation and/or short remembered sequences.

Depict the levels of movements in a variety of dance movements by drawing a picture or using symbols (for example, high, middle, low).

Demonstrate clear directionality and intent when performing locomotor and nonlocomotor movements that change body shapes, facings, and pathways in space. Identify symmetrical and asymmetrical body shapes and examine relationships between body parts.

Identify the length of time a move or phrase takes (for example, whether it is long or short). Identify and move on the downbeat. Correlate metric phrasing with movement phrasing.

Select and apply appropriate energy and dynamics to movements. Demonstrate kinesthetic awareness while dancing.

Demonstrate a range of locomotor and nonlocomotor movements, body patterning, and dance sequences that require moving through space using a variety of pathways.

Move safely in a variety of spatial relationships and formations with other dancers, sharing and maintaining personal space and exploring levels, directions, and pathway designs.

Repeat movements with an awareness of self and others in space. Self-adjust and modify movements or placement upon request.

Through performing a dance that conveys an idea, feeling, experience, image, or story, understand the role of an audience in a performance.

Use limited production elements (for example, hand props, simple scenery, or media projections).

Identify a dance style within the pattern of a dance.

Demonstrate movements in dances from different genres or cultures.

Use context cues from movement to identify meaning and intent in a dance, using simple dance terminology.

Observe or demonstrate dances from a genre or culture. Discuss movements and other aspects of the dances that make the dances work well and explain why they work. Use simple dance terminology.

Compare the relationships expressed in a dance to relationships with others. Explain how they are the same or different.

Ask a question about a key aspect of a dance. Explore it through movement. Communicate the answer to the question in oral, written, or movement form.

Find a relationship between a movement in a dance and the culture, society, or community from which the dance is derived. Explain what the movements communicate about the key aspects of the culture, society, or community.

Experiment with a variety of self-identified stimuli (for example, music/sound, text, objects, images, notation, observed dance, experiences) for movement.

Explore a given movement problem. Select and demonstrate a solution.

Identify and experiment with choreographic devices to create simple movement patterns and dance structures (for example, AB, ABA, theme and development).

Develop a dance phrase that expresses and communicates an idea or feeling. Discuss the effect of the movement choices.

Revise movement choices in response to feedback to improve a short dance study. Describe the differences the changes made in the movements.

Depict directions or spatial pathways in a dance phrase by drawing a picture map or using a symbol.

Demonstrate shapes with positive and negative space. Perform movement sequences in and through space with intentionality and focus.

Fulfill specified duration of time with improvised locomotor and nonlocomotor movements. Differentiate between "in time" and "out of time" to music. Perform movements that are the same or of a different time orientation to accompaniment. Use metric and kinesthetic phrasing.

Change use of energy and dynamics by modifying movements and applying specific characteristics to heighten the effect of their intent.

Replicate body shapes, movement characteristics, and movement patterns in a dance sequence with awareness of body alignment and core support.

Apply kinesthetic awareness to coordinate with a partner or other dancers to safely change levels, directions, and pathway designs.

Recall movement sequences with a partner or in group dance activities. Apply constructive feedback from teacher and self check to improve dance skills.

Identify the main areas of a performance space using production terminology (for example, stage right, stage left).

Explore simple production elements (for example, costumes, props, music, scenery, lighting, media) for a dance performed for an audience in a designated specific performance space.

Identify a movement pattern that creates a theme in a dance work.

Demonstrate and explain how one dance genre is different from another or how one cultural movement practice is different from another.

Select specific context cues from movement. Use basic dance terminology to explain how they relate to the main idea of the dance.

Select dance movements from specific genres, styles, or cultures. Identify characteristic movements from these dances and describe in basic dance terminology ways in which they are alike and different.

Relate the main idea or content in a dance to other experiences. Explain how the main idea of a dance is similar to or different from one's own experiences, relationships, ideas, or perspectives.

Develop and research a question about a key aspect of a dance. Choreograph a dance that communicates the learned information. Discuss the meaning of the dance and describe other possible forms of expression to communicate the topic.

Select and describe movements in a specific genre or style and explain how the movements relate to the culture, society, historical period, or community from which the dance originated.

Identify ideas for choreography generated from a variety of stimuli (for example, music/sound, text, objects, images, notation, observed dance, experiences).

Develop a movement problem and manipulate the elements of dance as tools to find a solution.

Manipulate or modify choreographic devices to expand movement possibilities and create a variety of movement patterns and structures. Discuss movement choices.

Develop a dance study that expresses and communicates a main idea. Discuss the reasons and effectiveness of the movement choices.

Revise movement based on peer feedback and self-reflection to improve communication of artistic intent in a short dance study. Explain choices made in the process.

Depict the relationships between two or more dancers in a dance phrase by drawing a picture or using symbols (for example, next to, above, below, behind, in front of).

Make static and dynamic shapes with positive and negative space. Perform elevated shapes (jump shapes) with soft landings and movement sequences alone and with others, establishing relationships with other dancers through focus of eyes.

Accompany other dancers using a variety of percussive instruments and sounds. Respond in movement to even and uneven rhythms. Recognize and respond to tempo changes as they occur in dance and music.

Analyze movements and phrases for use of energy and dynamic changes and use adjectives and adverbs to describe them. Refine the phrases by incorporating a range of movement characteristics.

Demonstrate fundamental dance skills (for example, alignment, coordination, balance, core support, kinesthetic awareness) and movement qualities when replicating and recalling patterns and sequences of locomotor and non-locomotor movements.

Execute techniques that extend movement range, build strength, and develop endurance. Explain the relationship between execution of technique, safe body-use, and healthy nutrition.

Coordinate phrases and timing with other dancers by cueing off each other and responding to stimuli cues (for example, music, text, lighting). Reflect on feedback from others to inform personal dance performance goals.

Consider how to establish a formal performance space from an informal setting (for example, gymnasium).

Identify, explore, and experiment with a variety of production elements to heighten the artistic intent and audience experience.

Identify patterns of movement in dance works that create a style or theme.

Demonstrate and explain how dance styles differ within a genre or within a cultural movement practice.

Relate movements, ideas, and context to decipher meaning in a dance, using basic dance terminology.

Discuss the characteristics of a famous work of art (for example, choreography). Apply those characteristics to dances observed or performed in a specific genre, style, or cultural movement practice. Use basic dance terminology.

Compare two dances with contrasting themes. Discuss feelings and ideas evoked by each. Describe how the themes and movements relate to points of view and experiences.

Select and research a choreographer and his or her work. Choreograph a dance that communicates the learned information and includes the genre and clarity of the choreographer's style. Explain the genre, style, and meaning of the dance.

Describe how the movement characteristics and qualities of a dance in a specific genre or style communicate the ideas and perspectives of the culture, historical period, or community from which the genre or style originated.

Build content for choreography using several stimuli (for example, music/sound, text, objects, images, notation, observed dance, experiences, literary forms, natural phenomena, current news, social events).

Construct and solve multiple movement problems to develop choreographic content.

Manipulate or modify a variety of choreographic devices to expand choreographic possibilities and develop a main idea. Explain reasons for movement choices.

Develop a dance study by selecting a specific movement vocabulary to communicate a main idea. Discuss how the dance communicates nonverbally.

Explore through movement the feedback from others to expand choreographic possibilities for a short dance study that communicates artistic intent. Explain the movement choices and refinements.

Record changes in a dance sequence through writing, symbols, or a form of media technology.

Integrate static and dynamic shapes and varied pathways into dance sequences. Use focus to maintain relationships with other dancers. Convert inward focus to outward focus for projecting out to far space.

Dance to a variety of rhythms generated from internal and external sources. Perform movement phrases that show the ability to respond to changes in time.

Contrast bound and free-flowing movement. Motivate movement from both central initiation (torso) and peripheral initiation (distal) and analyze the relationship between initiation and energy.

Recall and execute a series of dance phrases using fundamental dance skills (for example, alignment, coordination, balance, core support, kinesthetic awareness, clarity of movement).

Demonstrate safe body-use practices during technical exercises and movement combinations. Discuss how these practices, along with healthy eating habits, promote strength, flexibility, endurance, and injury prevention.

Collaborate with peer ensemble members to repeat sequences, synchronize actions, and refine spatial relationships to improve performance quality. Apply feedback from others to establish personal performance goals.

Demonstrate the ability to adapt dance to alternative performance venues by modifying spacing and movement to the performance space.

Identify, explore, and select production elements that heighten and intensify the artistic intent of a dance and are adaptable for various performance spaces.

Identify meaning or artistic intent from the patterns of movement in a dance work.

Demonstrate and explain how dance styles differ within a genre or within a cultural movement practice, using basic dance terminology.

Interpret meaning in a dance based on its movements. Use basic dance terminology to explain how the movements communicate the main idea of the dance.

Define the characteristics of dance that make a dance artistic and meaningful. Relate them to the elements of dance in genres, styles, or cultural movement practices. Use basic dance terminology to describe characteristics that make a dance artistic and meaningful.

Observe the movement characteristics or qualities observed in a specific dance genre. Describe differences and similarities about what was observed to one's attitudes and movement preferences.

Choose a topic, concept, or content from another subject of interest and research how other art forms have expressed the topic. Create and explain a dance study that expresses the idea.

Interpret and show how the movement and qualities of a dance communicate its cultural, historical, and/or community purpose or meaning.

Relate similar or contrasting ideas to develop choreography using a variety of stimuli (for example, music, observed dance, literary forms, notation, natural phenomena, personal experience/recall, current news, social events).

Explore various movement vocabularies to transfer ideas into choreography.

Explore choreographic devices and dance structures to develop a dance study that supports an artistic intent. Explain the goal or purpose of the dance.

Determine artistic criteria to choreograph a dance study that communicates personal or cultural meaning. Based on the criteria, evaluate why some movements are more or less effective than others.

Revise dance compositions using collaboratively developed artistic criteria. Explain reasons for revisions and how choices made relate to artistic intent.

Explore or invent a system to record a dance sequence through writing, symbols, or a form of media technology.

Refine partner and ensemble skills in the ability to judge distance and spatial design. Establish diverse pathways, levels, and patterns in space. Maintain focus with partner or group in near and far space.

Use combinations of sudden and sustained timing as it relates to both the time and the dynamics of a phrase or dance work. Accurately use accented and unaccented beats.

Explore dynamic expression as it relates to energy relationships in a variety of dance genres or styles.

Embody technical dance skills (for example, alignment, coordination, balance, core support, kinesthetic awareness, clarity of movement) to accurately execute changes of direction, levels, facings, pathways, elevations and landings, extensions of limbs, and movement transitions.

Apply basic anatomical knowledge, proprioceptive feedback, spatial awareness, and nutrition to promote safe and healthy strategies when warming up and dancing.

Collaborate as an ensemble to refine dances by identifying what does and does not work in executing complex patterns, sequences, and formations. Solve movement problems to dances by testing options and finding good results. Document self-improvements over time.

Use performance etiquette and performance practices during class, rehearsal, and performance. Post-performance: accept notes from the choreographer, make corrections as needed, and apply to future performances.

Compare and contrast a variety of possible production elements that would intensify and heighten the artistic intent of the work. Select choices and use production terminology to explain reasons for the decisions made.

Describe recurring patterns of movement and their relationships in dance.

Explain how the elements of dance are used in a variety of dance genres, styles, or cultural movement practices. Use genre-specific dance terminology.

Explain how the artistic expression of a dance is achieved through the elements of dance, use of body, dance technique, dance structure, and context. Use genre-specific dance terminology to explain how these communicate the intent of the dance.

Discuss the characteristics and artistic intent of a dance from a genre, style, or cultural movement practice and develop artistic criteria to critique the dance, using genre-specific dance terminology.