New Jersey K–6 dance standards

Examine how certain movements are used to express an emotion or experience in a dance that is observed or performed.

Using an inquiry-based set of questions examine global issues, including climate change as a topic for dance.

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

Demonstrate movement in response to a variety of sensory stimuli (e.g., music, imagery, objects) and suggest additional sources for movement ideas.

Combine movements using the elements of dance to solve a movement problem

Create a movement sequence with a beginning, middle and end. Incorporate the use of a choreographic device.

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

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

Document a dance-making experience through drawing, painting, writing, symbols, mapping, collaging, photo sequencing, photo captioning, video captioning, etc.

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences, with variations in direction ( e.g., forward/backward, up/down, big/small, sideways, right/left, diagonal), spatial level (e.g., low, middle, high), and spatial pathways (e.g., straight, curved, circular, zigzag), alone and in small groups

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences, with variations in tempo, meter, and rhythm, alone and in small groups.

Demonstrate contrasting dynamics and energy with accuracy (e.g., loose/tight, light/heavy, sharp/smooth).

Identify personal and general space to share space safely with other dancers. Categorize healthful strategies (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention, emotional health, overall functioning) essential for the dancer.

Identify basic body parts and joints (e.g., limb, bone) and joint actions (e.g., bend, rotate). Examine how basic body organs (e.g., brain, lungs, heart) relate and respond to dance movements.

Explore the use of spine and pursue use of elongated spine. Demonstrate body organization (e.g., core/distal, head/tail, upper/lower half lateral) and explore cross-lateral body organization. Demonstrate holding a shape in the body while traveling through space.

Explore a variety of body positions requiring a range of strength, flexibility and core support

Explore locomotor action vocabulary (e.g., gallop, hop, slide, skip) and non-locomotor action vocabulary (e.g., bending, stretching, twisting) and execute codified movements from various styles/genres with genre specific alignment. Demonstrate, through focused practice and repetition (e.g., breath control, body part initiations, body sequencing).

Explore how visualization, motor imagery and breath can enhance body mechanics and the quality of a movement skill.

Rehearse a simple dance using full body movement. Demonstrate the ability to recall the sequence and spatial elements.

Dance for and with others in a designated space identifying a distinct area for audience and performers.

Use simple production elements (e.g., hand props, scenery, media projections) in a dance work.

Demonstrate movements in a dance that develop patterns

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

Observe a movement from a dance or phrase and explain how the movement captures a meaning or intent using simple dance terminology.

Describe the characteristics that make several movements in a dance interesting. Use basic dance terminology.

Describe feelings and ideas evoked by a dance that are observed or performed and examine how they relate to personal points of view and experiences.

Use an inquiry base to investigate global issues, including climate change, expressed through a variety of dance genres, styles and cultural lenses.

Observe and describe how the movements 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.

Use a variety of stimuli (e.g., music, sound, text, objects, images, notation, experiences, observed dance, literary forms, natural phenomena, current news) to build dance content.

Solve multiple movement problems using the elements of dance to develop dance content.

Select a choreographic device to expand movement possibilities, create patterns and structures and develop a main idea. Use dance terminology to explain movement choices.

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

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

Document a dance-making experience through drawing, painting, writing, symbols, mapping, collaging, photo sequencing, photo captioning, video captioning, etc.

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences with increasing complexity in the use of space. Establish relationships with other dancers, increasing spatial awareness and design (e.g., diverse pathways, levels, patterns, focus, near/far).

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences with increasing complexity in the use of time/rhythm by accurately transferring rhythmic patterns from the auditory to the kinesthetic and responding immediately to tempo changes.

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences and dance combinations applying a variety of dynamics and energy (e.g., fast/slow, sharp/smooth, strong/gentle, tight/loose.)

Apply healthful strategies (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention, emotional health, overall functioning) essential for the dancer.

Recall joint actions, articulations and basic anatomical terms (e.g., muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments) as they relate to dance and apply basic kinesthetic principles (e.g., flexion/extension, inward/outward rotation). Track how basic body organs (e.g., lungs, heart, brain) respond to different intensities of dance movement.

Identify body organization. Demonstrate use of elongated spine and engage in release of tension from spine/shoulders.

Demonstrate increased flexibility, strength and endurance using a variety of bases of support (e.g., body shapes, levels, core).

Apply action vocabulary and execute specific codified movements from various styles/genres. Demonstrate, through focused practice and repetition, body part initiations and articulation of limbs and joints

Apply visualization, motor imagery and breath to enhance body mechanics and the quality of a movement skill.

Rehearse a dance to improve group awareness, unison movement, consistency, and attention to detail.

Dance for and with others in formal and informal settings. Identify and modify the main areas of a performance space and body movements using production terminology (e.g., stage left, stage right, center stage, upstage, downstage).

Manipulate a variety of technical elements, (e.g., costumes, lighting, sound, performance cues) to support the artistic intent of the dances

Describe recurring patterns of movement and their relationships to the meaning of the dance.

Compare and contrast qualities and characteristics to another dance genre or culture. Use basic dance terminology and elements of dance to describe the qualities and characteristics.

Interpret meaning or intent in a dance or phrase based on its movements. Explain how the movements communicate the main idea of the dance using basic dance terminology.

Develop an artistic criterion as it relates to the elements of dance in specific genres, styles, or cultural movement practices. Use dance terminology to describe, discuss and compare characteristics that make a dance communicate effectively.

Explain how the perspectives expressed by the choreographer impact personal interpretation. Consider how personal background and experiences influence responses to dance works.

Employ a variety of research methods to inform the development of original dances about global issues, including climate change. Articulate ways the research deepened understanding of the topic and how big ideas are expressed metaphorically through dance.

Research and analyze how dances from a variety of cultures, societies, historical periods, or communities reveal the ideas and perspectives of the people from whom the dances originate.

Implement movement created from a variety of stimuli (e.g., music, sound, literary forms, notation, natural phenomena, experiences, current news, social events) to develop an original dance study.

Explore various movement genres though the elements of dance. Identify and select personal preferences to create an original dance study.

Demonstrate a variety of choreographic devices and dance structures (e.g., ABA, palindrome, theme and variation, rondo, retrograde, inversion, narrative, accumulation), to collaboratively develop a dance study with a clear artistic intent. Use dance terminology to articulate and justify reasons for movement choices.

Establish criteria to choreograph a dance that communicates personal, historical, sociopolitical, or cultural meaning. Articulate how the criteria clarify or intensify the artistic intent

Revise choreography collaboratively or independently based on artistic criteria, self reflection and the feedback of others. Explain movement choices and revisions and how they impact the artistic intent.

Record changes in a dance sequence through writing and/or drawing (e.g., directions, spatial pathways, relationships) using dance notations symbols, or forms of media technology.

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences with increasing complexity in the use of floor and air pathways, including various spatial designs for movement interest and contrast to sculpt the body in space.

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences of varying lengths with increasing complexity in the use of metric, kinesthetic and breath phrasing.

Perform planned and improvised movement sequences and dance combinations applying dynamic phrasing, energy, emotional intent, and characterization.

Examine how healthful strategies (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention, emotional health, overall functioning) and safe body-use practices are essential for the dancer.

Examine how kinesthetic principles and various body systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal) relate to the dancing body

Demonstrate use of elongated spine and engage in release of tension from spine/shoulders. Demonstrate the placement and shifting of energy in the body. Use vertical, off-center and nonvertical alignment. Maintain organization of the body while moving through space.

Explore movement that develops a wide range of motion, muscular flexibility, strength, and endurance. Explore different body conditioning techniques (e.g., yoga, weight training, aerobics, Pilates).

Transfer vocabulary and codified movements from various styles/genres with genre specific alignment. Demonstrate, through focused practice and repetition, breath control, body part initiation and body sequencing.

Investigate visualization, motor imagery and breath to apply and enhance the quality of body mechanics and the energy related to the movement skill.

Apply specific feedback in rehearsal to refine performance accuracy, consistency and expressiveness. Clarify the execution of complex patterns, sequences and formations.

Apply feedback to make changes to and adapt movements to performance area. Use performance etiquette and performance practices during class, rehearsal and performance. Accept notes from the choreographer, apply corrections and document performance process using dance and production terminology. Analyze and evaluate the success of a performance.

Differentiate technical and production elements and terminology to communicate with performers and backstage personnel to enhance the artistic intent of the dances.

Use genre-specific terminology to compare and contrast recurring patterns of movement and their relationships in dance in the context of artistic intent.

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

Examine a dance and explain how artistic expression is achieved through relationships among the elements of dance, use of body, dance technique, and context. Interpret using genre specific dance terminology.

Examine artistic criteria to determine what makes an effective performance. Consider content, context, genre, style, and /or cultural movement practice to comprehend artistic expression. Use genre-specific dance terminology.