Classroom Resource

Ballet and Classical Music

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

3, 4, 5

Overview

In this lesson, students will choreograph a sequence of ballet movements to tell a story.  

Throughout this lesson, students will: 

    • Define ballet vocabulary and movement.
    • Apply the basic concept of rhythm to classical music.
    • Compare the relationship between classical ballet and classical music.
    • Research and gather information about the history of classical ballet.
    • Describe the physical fitness benefits, entertainment, and career options for classical ballet dancers and musicians.
    • Create a storyline for a ballet.
    • Choreograph an original story.
    • Discuss the production with the audience both pre-performance and post-performance. 
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 3 - Dance

AE17.D.3.4

Create a dance phrase that communicates an idea or feeling and discuss the effect of the movement choices.

Unpacked Content

UP:AE17.D.3.4

Vocabulary

  • prompts
  • use elements of dance
  • movement problem
  • choreographic devices
  • structure
  • dance phrase
  • concept and inspirations for choreography
  • feedback and revision
  • dance study
  • notation
  • dance phrase

Essential Questions

EU: The elements of dance, dance structures, and choreographic devices serve as both a foundation and a departure point for choreographers.
EQ: What influences choice-making in creating choreography?

Skills Examples

  • Use a variety of prompts for inspiration (i.e., music/ sound, text, objects, images, notation, observed dance experiences).
  • Find a way to travel across the floor only using a low level.
  • Select a choreographic device and create a dance phrase (i.e., retrograde, scramble/ deconstruct, transposition, inversion, or fragment).
  • Create a short movement phrase and perform with "sad" emotion then "happy" emotion. Discuss how the movement changed.
  • Discuss and use peer feedback or instructor feedback.
  • Create a floor map, using different colors for different levels of movement.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 4 - Dance

AE17.D.4.4

Create a dance study that expresses and communicates a main idea and discuss the reasons for the movement choices.

Unpacked Content

UP:AE17.D.4.4

Vocabulary

  • choreography
  • prompts
  • movement problem
  • elements of dance
  • choreographic devices
  • dance study
  • artistic intent
  • dance phrase

Essential Questions

EU: The elements of dance, dance structures, and choreographic devices serve as both a foundation and a departure point for choreographers.
EQ: What influences choice-making in creating choreography?

Skills Examples

  • Use music, sound, text, objects, images, notation, observed dance, or experiences to create a dance phrase.
  • Perform a dance phrase using three different levels.
  • Perform a dance phrase that alters the timing of the movement.
  • Create a trio from a solo by performing movements in a three-part canon.
  • Create a dance based on the maid idea of "water" or "fire" and explain how the movement choices that were made express your topic.
  • After performing short dance study, reflect on possible changes that could have been made and use peer feedback to revise movement.
  • Draw a formation or pathway of dancers using symbols.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 5 - Dance

AE17.D.5.4

Select a codified movement vocabulary or preferred dance style to develop a dance study to communicate a main idea.

Unpacked Content

UP:AE17.D.5.4

Vocabulary

  • choreography
  • prompts
  • movement problems
  • choreography
  • elements of dance
  • choreographic devices
  • structure
  • codified movement
  • style
  • dance study
  • concept and inspiration for choreography
  • dance study
  • feedback and revise
  • notate

Essential Questions

EU: The elements of dance, dance structures, and choreographic devices serve as both a foundation and a departure point for choreographers.
EQ: What influences choice-making in creating choreography?

Skills Examples

  • Create movement from spoken word, text, poetry, images, or nature.
  • Create a dance with a beginning, middle, and end that includes zigzag pathways and changes in energy.
  • Manipulate movement by utilizing choreographic devices such as retrograde, mirroring, or transposition.
  • Utilize ballet movement to create a story.
  • At the end of a dance study, reflect in a journal what changes were made during the process, why were they made, and what was the end result.
  • Record changes in choreography in a dance journal.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Link to Resource
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-reso…

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

The Kennedy Center
Accessibility
License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.kennedy-center.org/terms-conditions/

Approved Date

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