Reflection #7

What? As I was working with my group to come up with ideas for creative dance and as I was watching the other groups perform I really started to understand better what would and would not work. I really started to look at books differently and realize where there is potential movement when I didn't see it before. As other groups were performing, sometimes they would give directions and it wouldn't be very clear or seem to go along with the book very well. Other things worked really well. I am starting to realize what kinds of things actually work and what doesn't work with creative dance.

So What? I think creative dance will be very important to use in the schools and I think students will enjoy doing it. I think it is a good way to get the students thinking creatively and at the same time get them out of their comfort zones, doing new things in an environment where they don't feel self conscious about it. I really like the idea of giving them direction but letting them interpret it on their own and not just always teaching exact steps for them to memorize and follow. I liked the video we watched in class that showed real students participating in creative dance and how much they enjoyed it and participated and gave it their best shot.

Now What? When I am teaching I will definitely use the brain dance to help get my students warmed up and to help them with their thinking skills. I will use some of the ideas that groups presented in class, but others I will change some to be more effective for my students. I will find books that apply to what I will be teaching and use ideas from class and the text book to create creative dance lessons. I will also teach my students dances that have some set steps to help them with rhythm, timing, and memorization.