Kentucky K–6 dance standards

Respond in movement to a variety of stimuli.

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.

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

Identify and apply different characteristics to movements.

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

Move parts of the body in relation to other parts of the body and repeat and recall movements.

Dance for and with others in a designated space. Identify appropriate etiquette in dance class.

Select a prop to use as part of a dance.

Find a movement that repeats in a dance.

Demonstrate or describe observed or performed dance movements.

Observe movement and describe it.

Find a movement that was interesting in a dance.

Recognize and name an emotion that is experienced when watching or performing a dance.

Demonstrate the movements in a social, cultural or historical dance that was observed.

Explore movement inspired by a variety of stimuli and identify the source.

Explore a variety of locomotor and non- locomotor movements by experimenting with and changing the Elements of Dance.

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

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

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

Depict several different types of movements of a dance by drawing a picture or using a symbol.

Demonstrate locomotor and non- locomotor movements that change body shapes and explore the element of space.

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

Demonstrate movement characteristics along with movement vocabulary.

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

Safely travel and maintain personal space in group formations and formation changes while dancing in general space.

Modify movements and spatial arrangements.

Dance for others in a space where audience and performers occupy different areas. Select appropriate performance etiquette in dance class and rehearsal.

Explore the use of simple props to enhance performance.

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

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

Select movements from a dance that suggests ideas and explain how the movement captures the idea.

Identify and describe the characteristics that make the movements interesting in a dance.

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

Observe 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 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.

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.

Demonstrate clear directionality and intent when performing locomotor and non-locomotor movements using the element of space. Identify symmetrical and asymmetrical body shapes and examine relationships between the parts of the body.

Identify the length of time a move or phrase takes.

Demonstrate kinesthetic awareness and apply appropriate characteristics to movement.

Demonstrate a range of locomotor and non-locomotor 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.

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

Dance for and with others in a space where the audience and performers occupy different areas. Explore appropriate performance etiquette in dance class and rehearsal.

Use limited production elements.

Find movements in a dance that develop a pattern.

Demonstrate and describe movements in dances from different genres or cultures.

Use context cues from movement to identify meaning and intent in a dance. Students might identify body language, shape, postures that communicate a thought or feeling. Dance could be observed through in class peer performance or through viewing of professional performance examples.

Observe and describe dance from a genre or culture. Using the Elements of Dance, discuss movements that make the dance interesting.

Describe, create and/or perform a dance that expresses personal meaning.

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

Experiment with a variety of self- identified stimuli for movement.

Using the Elements of Dance, solve a given movement problem. Select and demonstrate a solution.

Identify and experiment with choreographic devices to create simple movement patterns and dance structures.

Develop a dance phrase that expresses and communicates an idea or feeling.

Revise movement choices in response to feedback to improve a short dance study.

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

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

Fill specified duration of time with improvised locomotor and non-locomotor 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.

Fill specified duration of time with improvised locomotor and non-locomotor movements and differentiate between “in time” and “out of time” to music.

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

Adjust body-use to coordinate with a partner or other dancers to safely change levels, directions and pathways.

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. Apply appropriate performance etiquette in dance class, rehearsal and performance.

Explore simple production elements for a dance performed for an audience in a designated specific performance space.

Find a movement pattern that creates a movement phrase 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. Explain how they relate to the main idea of the dance.

Select dance movements from specific genres, styles or cultures. Compare characteristic movements using the Elements of Dance.

Compare the relationships expressed in dance to relationships with others.

Find a relationship between movement in a dance from a culture, society or community and the culture from which the dance is derived.

Identify ideas for choreography generated from a variety of stimuli.

Develop a movement problem and manipulate the Elements of Dance as tools to find a solution.

Use a choreographic device 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.

Revise movement based on guided 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.

Make static and dynamic shapes with positive and negative space in movement sequences alone and with others, establishing relationships with other dancers through focus of eyes.

Respond in movement to even and uneven rhythms and to tempo changes as they occur in music.

Analyze movements and phrases for use of energy and dynamic changes.

Demonstrate fundamental dance skills and movement qualities when replicating and recalling patterns and sequences.

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

Coordinate phrases and timing with other dancers by cueing off each other and responding to stimuli. Reflect on feedback from others to inform personal dance performance goals.

Consider how to establish a formal performance space from an informal setting. Use appropriate performance etiquette in dance class, rehearsal and performance.

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

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

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

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

Discuss the characteristics that make a dance interesting and convey meaning.

Relate the main idea or content in a dance to other experiences.

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.

Build content for choreography using several stimuli.

Construct and solve multiple movement problems using the Elements of Dance 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.

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

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

Integrate static and dynamic shapes and floor and elevated pathways into dance sequences. Establish relationships with other dancers through focus of eyes and other parts of the body.

Dance to a variety of rhythms generated and perform movement phrases that show the ability to respond to changes in time.

Contrast bound and free-flowing movements while motivating movement from both central (torso) and peripheral (distal) initiation.

Recall and execute a series of dance phrases using fundamental dance skills.

Demonstrate safe body-use practices during technical exercises and movement combinations. Discuss basic anatomy and how these practices, along with healthful 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.

Adapt dance to alternative performance venues by modifying spacing and movements to the performance space. Demonstrate performance practices and etiquette during class, rehearsal and performance.

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

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

Describe, using basic dance terminology, the qualities and characteristics of style used in a dance from one’s own cultural movement practice.

Interpret meaning in a dance based on its movements. Explain how the movements communicate the main idea of the dance.

Define the characteristics of a dance that make it interesting and convey meaning. Relate them to the Elements of Dance in genres, styles or cultural movement practices.

Compare two dances with contrasting themes. Students might explain how the main idea of a dance is similar to or different from one’s own experiences, relationship, ideas or perspectives. Students might discuss feelings and ideas evoked by each dance or describe how themes and movements relate to points of view and experiences.

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.

Relate similar or contrasting ideas to develop choreography using a variety of stimuli.

Explore the Elements of Dance to transfer ideas into choreography.

Explore choreographic devices and dance structures to develop a dance study that supports an artistic intent.

Determine artistic criteria to choreograph a dance study that communicates personal or cultural meaning.

Revise dance compositions using collaboratively developed artistic criteria.

Explore a dance sequence through writing, symbols or a form of recording technology.

Establish diverse pathways, levels and patterns in space. Refine partner and ensemble skills while judging distance and spatial design. Maintain focus with a partner or group.

Use combinations of sudden and sustained timing. Accurately use accented and unaccented beats.

Use the internal body force created by varying tensions within one’s musculature for movement initiation and dynamic expression. Distinguish between bound and free-flowing movements and appropriately apply them to technique exercises and dance phrases.

Apply technical dance skills to accurately execute changes of direction, levels, facings, pathways, elevations and landings, extensions of limbs and movement transitions.

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

Collaborate as an ensemble to refine dances by identifying what works and does not work in executing complex patterns, sequences and formations. Solve movement problems to dances by experimentation. Reflect self-improvements over time.

Recognize the need for technical skill, stage presence and adapting movements to the performance area. Consistently demonstrate performance practices and etiquette during class, rehearsal and performance.

Compare a variety of possible production elements that would intensify and heighten the artistic intent of the work.

Describe or demonstrate recurring patterns of movement and their relationships in dance.

Using genre-specific terminology, explain how the Elements of Dance are used in a variety of dance genres, styles or cultural dance movements.

Explain how the artistic expression of a dance is achieved through the Elements of Dance, use of body, dance technique, dance structure and context. 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 the Elements of Dance.

Observe movement characteristics or qualities in a specific dance genre and compare to one's personal movement.

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