Dance
"Rhythm meets learning."
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Purpose of the Website
The Bangarra Dance Theatre website serves as a window into the tremendous cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The website provides a portal through which the company can share its amazing performances and artistic collaborations, as well as stories demonstrating different aspects of the history and experiences of Indigenous Australians. Beyond just showcasing their art, the website also presents a broader picture, displaying Bangarra's commitment to education and community engagement with different communities through its educational and cultural resources and programs that foster reconciliation and understanding. The website would be a good resource for educators looking for innovative ways to teach about Indigenous cultures for students wanting to discover more, and for general art enthusiasts. It also serves as a catalyst for exploring and encouraging education, research, and ideas around a better understanding of reconciliation space. I believe that exploration of the website will enable visitors to appreciate the importance of preserving cultural heritage and reflect to contemplate the importance of dance and storytelling and helping to inform a set way to communicate those stories across the globe.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
- Visually stunning design:
The design of the website is executed in a way that incorporates all of Indigenous Australian art aesthetic flair and is visually congruent with Bangarra's usage of color and patterns. The site creates a truly immersive visual experience for the visitor.
- Rich cultural content:
The website is packed with Bangarra's amazing performances, artistic collaborations, and commitment to storytelling, which constitute a high density of information about Indigenous cultures.
- Transparent mission and values:
Bangarra's mission and values are clear. The website clearly communicates Bangarra's mission and values. The visitors should be crystal clear about their mission and goals.
- Awareness of education and community:
The website sheds light on Bangarra's education programs and community, which is great for educators and students who want to explore Indigenous cultures.
- Limited educational resources:
The website provides coverage of Bangarra's education programs, but could be more explicit about teachers being able to access lesson plans or explicit resources that provide detail about integrating Bangarra's content into their curriculum.
- Lack of interactivity:
The website could do a better job in some sections featuring videos, animations, or interactive storytelling features to engage visitors' receptiveness.
- Limited contributions from users:
The website could be enhanced by allowing visitors to be able to share their own stories, experiences, or artwork, which would create a cultured community effort.
- More multimedia content:
The website could use more multimedia type content, videos, podcasts, or behind the scenes content, which would allow visitors to understand Bangarra's artistic vision and creative processes in more detail.
Raw Energy Dance Education
Purpose of the Website
The Raw Energy Dance Education website offers curriculum-aligned dance educational programs and resources for schools with a mission to excite and motivate students to be active through dance while promoting creativity, physical and mental well-being, and confidence. Raw Energy Dance Education shares dance lessons that are accessible and inclusive, online teacher resources, and extra-curricular activities to meet the needs and interests of a diverse student population. It makes it easy for teachers to teach dance by providing easy-to-follow lesson plans and videos. It is an invaluable resource for schools and educators that want to improve their dance education programs and develop student' love of dance.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
- Programs align with curriculum:
Aligns with Australian Curriculum and NESA standards.
- Resources are accessible:
Offers online tutorials, lesson plans, and routines.
- Inclusive approach:
Programs caters to different cohorts of students.
- First Nations integration:
Inclusive First Nations creative movement practices.
- Promotes creativity and confidence:
Fosters student development.
- Lessons plans are not always very detailed:
It would help to have more specific examples in lesson plans.
- Not enough user-generated content:
Could enhance interactivity.
- Not enough visual examples:
Additional images or videos of programs and performances would help.
- More interactive features could encourage user engagement:
Would help with improving user experience.
AusDance
Purpose of the Website
The Ausdance website serves as a platform for Australia's peak body for dance, supporting the diversity of dance in Australia and encouraging dance as an important part of life in Australia. The primary purpose of the website is to provide resources, information, and support for the development of the dance community, as it relates to educators, artists, and lovers of dance. The website's role is to lead and shape dance policy development, provide a national voice for dance and dance education, and develop national and international links to dance organizations.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
- Advocacy and leadership:
Ausdance National has a high-profile national reputation as an effective body for dance advocacy and leadership.
- Variety of resources available: The website provides the reader with varieties of forms of dance and dance practices.
- National and international connections:
Ausdance creates connections with dance organizations nationally and globally.
- Inclusive approach:
The website reiterates Ausdance's commitment to create a safer and more inclusive dance industry.
- Limited educational resources:
While there are resources provided on the website for dance education, it would benefit from having more specific lesson plans and activities.
- Accessibility issues:
The website's design and navigation could be improved to make it more user-friendly.
- Funding constraints:
The website notes that Ausdance National isnot being funded federally and it may detract from what programs and/or services it provides.
Dancify - Dance Education
Purpose of the Website
Dancify's mission is to deliver high-quality dance education to children of all ages while emphasizing with the development of self-confidence, creativity, body awareness, and self-esteem in very young children. The website offers dance classes and programs for kindergartens, early learning centers, and primary schools, making it easier for teachers and parents to provide children with a fun and active learning experience.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
- Convenience:
Dancify's programs are designed to be convenient for teachers and parents, with classes held at familiar locations.
- Experienced staff:
The website highlights the experience and qualifications of the staff of Dancify, providing reassurance about the quality of the programs.
- Focus on young children:
Dancify's programs are specifically designed for young children, with a focus on building self-confidence and self-esteem.
- Variety of programs:
The website offers a range of programs, such as dance classes, discos, and concerts.
- Limited information on curriculum links:
The website puts a good emphasis on the benefits of dance education, but could be improved with more information about the curriculum links.
- Limited resources for teachers:
The website could provide more resources and support for teachers, such as lesson plans and activity ideas.
- Geographic limitations:
The website mentions that Dancify operates in South Australia, and that may not be accessible for teachers and parents elsewhere.
Classroom Activities
These are some fun and engaging dance activities that may be introduced into the classroom in order to support learning with movement. The dance learning activities can be adapted to any age group and subjects from the websites, and they also help students develop their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while having fun.
"Movement is a powerful medium for learning and development."
- Lovena Rawoo
Activity: "Dreamtime Storytelling through Dance"
- Age Group: 4-5 years old (Kindergarten)
- Objective: To provide an introduction to Indigenous stories from Dreamtime through dance and storytelling.
- Activity:
1. Choose a simple Dreamtime story - this will depend on the age group of children, such as "Tiddalik the Frog", etc.
2. Develop a dance sequence that relates to this story.
3. Includes props and costumes as part of the storytelling process to support the story.
4. Allow children to share their own stories with Dreamtime influence.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Introduction: Explain Dreamtime stories by providing children with some background history about Indigenous people and that their stories come from Dreamtime.
2. Storytelling: Read a simple Dreamtime story to the children, and get them to visualize what the characters and environment looks like in the story.
3. Develop a dance sequence: Create a dance sequence that relates to the story, using movements and gestures.
4. Performance: Perform the dance sequence and take time to reflect on the experience.
Materials:
- Dreamtime storybooks
- Music and sound effects
- Props and costumes
Assessment:
- Observe children's understanding of the Dreamtime story.
- Evaluate children's participation and engagement throughout the dance sequence.
Cultural Awareness:
- Consult with Indigenous experts or elders to ensure cultural accuracy and congruence.
- Respect Indigenous culture and traditions.
Activity: "Follow the Leader Dance"
- Age Group: 4-5 years old (Kindergarten)
- Purpose: To develop leadership and following skills through dance.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Introduction: Introduce the idea of leadership and following.
2. Dance Sequence: Choose a leader who will demonstrate simple dance movements.
3. Following: Encourage the children to follow the leader's movements.
4. Leadership Switch: Switch leaders and encourage children to take turns leading the group.
Materials:
- Music and sound effects
- Props (e.g., scarves, ribbons)
Assessment:
- Observe the children's ability to follow and lead.
- Evaluate children's participation and engagement in the dance sequence.
Activity: Math Dance: Counting Kangaroos
Lesson Plan: Math Dance - Counting Kangaroos
Age Group: 4-5 years old (Kindergarten)
Objectives:
- To practice counting skills through dance and movement
- To use dance to develop/create problem-solving skills around mathematics
- To promote an opportunity for physical activity and creativity
Materials:
- Music and props (e.g., kangaroo costumes, number cards)
- Math problem-solving cards
- Dance space with flat surface
Lesson Plan:
Introduction
1. Introduce the concept of counting and ask children about their favorite numbers.
2. Show pictures or videos of kangaroos and ask children to describe their movements.
Dance Sequence
1. Create a dance sequence of kangaroos hopping across the stage.
2. Use the music and props to engage children.
3. Encourage children to count along with the kangaroos.
Counting Activity
1. Encourage the children to count along with the kangaroos (e.g., one-kangaroo hops)
2. Use number cards to extend their counting skills.
3. Ask children about their knowledge of numbers and count objects.
Math Problem-Solving
1. Create a Math Problem Solving Activity from a dance context.
2. Use math problem-solving cards to provide examples (e.g., "If I have 5 kangaroos and then 2 more hop in, how many kangaroos do I have now?").
3. Encourage children to solve math problems using dance and movement.
Conclusion
1. Review counting skills and concepts of problem-solving in math.
2. Have children reflect on what they learned from the experience.
Assessment:
- Observe children's counting skills and math problem-solving abilities.
- Assess their ability to follow the dance sequences and participate in math activities.
Activity: "Friendship Dance"
- Age Group: 4-5 years old (Kindergarten)
- Duration: 40 minutes
- Objective: Support social skills and friendship through dance.
- Materials: Scarves, ribbons, music
- Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Introduction: Introduce the concept of friendship and ask children to share friendship means to them.
2. Dance sequence: Create a dance sequence that encourages children to cooperate and work as a team, using props, such as scarves or ribbons.
3. Performance: Perform the dance sequence and reflect on the experience.
4. Conclusion: Discuss the importance of friendship and teamwork later.
Assessment:
- Observe children's ability to work together and cooperate.
- Assess their participation and engagement in the dance sequence.