DANCE
PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN
Creativity & Exploration
Elements of Dance
Pre-K and Kindergarten students will spend their time in dance class working on and exploring the elements of dance which will be reviewed and implemented in every unit. Students will gain an understanding of the various elements of dance through instruction, exploration, creation, performance, and reflection. These elements include: Body (parts, relationships, shapes, balance), Energy (force, weight, flow), Space (place, size, level, direction, pathway, focus), and Time (speed & rhythm).
Pre-K and Kindergarten students will end their year studying yoga. This will support the importance of stretching and alignment. First grade students will end their year studying various cultural dances from around the world, allowing our dance unit to align with other IB units within Peirce.
Creativity & Exploration
Elements of Dance
Pre-K and Kindergarten students will spend their time in dance class working on and exploring the elements of dance which will be reviewed and implemented in every unit. Students will gain an understanding of the various elements of dance through instruction, exploration, creation, performance, and reflection. These elements include: Body (parts, relationships, shapes, balance), Energy (force, weight, flow), Space (place, size, level, direction, pathway, focus), and Time (speed & rhythm).
Pre-K and Kindergarten students will end their year studying yoga. This will support the importance of stretching and alignment. First grade students will end their year studying various cultural dances from around the world, allowing our dance unit to align with other IB units within Peirce.
1ST GRADE
Creativity & Exploration
Elements of Dance: Line Dancing
First grade students will spend their dance classes incorporating the elements dance into line dances. Students will not only learn the most popular line dances in pop culture, but also how to manipulate them based on body, space, time, etc. Aside from dance element incorporation, we will also be examining each line dance to determine similarities and differences to other line dances learned. This unit begins our students' process of step learning and critical thinking as it pertains to genres of dance at Peirce!
Creativity & Exploration
Elements of Dance: Line Dancing
First grade students will spend their dance classes incorporating the elements dance into line dances. Students will not only learn the most popular line dances in pop culture, but also how to manipulate them based on body, space, time, etc. Aside from dance element incorporation, we will also be examining each line dance to determine similarities and differences to other line dances learned. This unit begins our students' process of step learning and critical thinking as it pertains to genres of dance at Peirce!
2ND GRADE
Alignment & Technique
Ballet & Modern Dance
Second grade students will spend their time in dance class exploring body alignment and how this concept applies to the elements of ballet and modern dance. Students will learn how preparation, warm up of their bodies, and alignment varies based on dance discipline. Vocabulary and movement terminology will also be built based on discipline. Students will learn the historical contexts of ballet & modern, as well as their function of telling stories. The second grade year's work will conclude with a performance utilizing ballet & modern dance posture, movements, and music.
3RD GRADE
Rhythm & Musicality
Jazz & Tap Dance
Third grade students will split their time in dance class working on jazz and tap dance. Students will learn a basic jazz & tap warm up, terminology, and movement vocabulary. Students will learn the historical context of both jazz & tap, the defining characteristics of each genre (rhythm and style), as well as their relationship with other forms of dance. The third grade students will work to perform final pieces of choreography utilizing jazz & tap rhythm and movements.
Alignment & Technique
Ballet & Modern Dance
Second grade students will spend their time in dance class exploring body alignment and how this concept applies to the elements of ballet and modern dance. Students will learn how preparation, warm up of their bodies, and alignment varies based on dance discipline. Vocabulary and movement terminology will also be built based on discipline. Students will learn the historical contexts of ballet & modern, as well as their function of telling stories. The second grade year's work will conclude with a performance utilizing ballet & modern dance posture, movements, and music.
3RD GRADE
Rhythm & Musicality
Jazz & Tap Dance
Third grade students will split their time in dance class working on jazz and tap dance. Students will learn a basic jazz & tap warm up, terminology, and movement vocabulary. Students will learn the historical context of both jazz & tap, the defining characteristics of each genre (rhythm and style), as well as their relationship with other forms of dance. The third grade students will work to perform final pieces of choreography utilizing jazz & tap rhythm and movements.
4TH GRADE
Creativity & Creation
Choreography
Fourth grade students will split their time in dance class working on modern dance and art of choreography. Students will learn the historical context of modern dance as it pertains to ballet, as well as the defining characteristics of warm up and performance within the genre. The concepts of post-modern dance and improvisation will be explored and used to create pieces of choreography. Along with modern dance, fourth grade students will also be exploring and playing with various devices of choreography in order to create their own works of dance. Choreographic devices, improvisation, and modern dance concepts will be used to create and perform within the classroom, as well as for one or both of the Peirce performances taking place in the winter and spring seasons.
5TH GRADE
Culture & Expression
Hip Hop
Fifth grade students will be introduced to hip hop culture and its various means of expression throughout the arts. This introduction will be used as a vehicle for students to explore their own cultural identity, and what it reflects onto the dance floor. Along with their dance class studies, fifth grade students will also have the opportunity to perform in the 5th grade musical to be premiered in the spring of 2020!
6TH GRADE
Expression *Style* Change
Dancing Through the Decades
Sixth grade students will have their feet focused primarily on the concept of social dance, throughout the decades. This class will focus on influence of popular culture on dance beginning in the 20th century in the United States. Students will be investigating the various social and popular dances created in each decade, and how the political, social, and geographical climate influenced their creation.
7TH GRADE
Aesthetics *Visual Culture* Expression
Dances of the World
Seventh grade students will focus on various dances developed & performed throughout the world. Students will not only be immersed in dance steps and complimentary music, but will also be investigating the cultural roots behind each of the dances learned.
8TH GRADE
Creativity *Composition* Innovation
Dance on Film
One of my personally most anticipated units, eight graders will be studying dance on film. Specifically, how choices, setting, costumes, message, cuts, characters, natural elements become more pliable when dealing with choreography made for film. This class will focus on use of technology to influence, change, and create movement through the elements of dance (retrograde, repetition, accumulation, etc). Students will use a variety of technological resources to create, manipulate, and present choreography, including iPads, and apps such as Dance Maker, Pic Stitch, iMovie, Loopideo and Videoshop.
Visit Ms. Moritz's classroom website for more information.
Creativity & Creation
Choreography
Fourth grade students will split their time in dance class working on modern dance and art of choreography. Students will learn the historical context of modern dance as it pertains to ballet, as well as the defining characteristics of warm up and performance within the genre. The concepts of post-modern dance and improvisation will be explored and used to create pieces of choreography. Along with modern dance, fourth grade students will also be exploring and playing with various devices of choreography in order to create their own works of dance. Choreographic devices, improvisation, and modern dance concepts will be used to create and perform within the classroom, as well as for one or both of the Peirce performances taking place in the winter and spring seasons.
5TH GRADE
Culture & Expression
Hip Hop
Fifth grade students will be introduced to hip hop culture and its various means of expression throughout the arts. This introduction will be used as a vehicle for students to explore their own cultural identity, and what it reflects onto the dance floor. Along with their dance class studies, fifth grade students will also have the opportunity to perform in the 5th grade musical to be premiered in the spring of 2020!
6TH GRADE
Expression *Style* Change
Dancing Through the Decades
Sixth grade students will have their feet focused primarily on the concept of social dance, throughout the decades. This class will focus on influence of popular culture on dance beginning in the 20th century in the United States. Students will be investigating the various social and popular dances created in each decade, and how the political, social, and geographical climate influenced their creation.
7TH GRADE
Aesthetics *Visual Culture* Expression
Dances of the World
Seventh grade students will focus on various dances developed & performed throughout the world. Students will not only be immersed in dance steps and complimentary music, but will also be investigating the cultural roots behind each of the dances learned.
8TH GRADE
Creativity *Composition* Innovation
Dance on Film
One of my personally most anticipated units, eight graders will be studying dance on film. Specifically, how choices, setting, costumes, message, cuts, characters, natural elements become more pliable when dealing with choreography made for film. This class will focus on use of technology to influence, change, and create movement through the elements of dance (retrograde, repetition, accumulation, etc). Students will use a variety of technological resources to create, manipulate, and present choreography, including iPads, and apps such as Dance Maker, Pic Stitch, iMovie, Loopideo and Videoshop.
Visit Ms. Moritz's classroom website for more information.
DANCE ON FILM: DESIGN AN EMOTION
The students assignment was to design an emotion through the use of choreography and digital enhancements (both movement and digital media manipulation had to convey the same emotion) - each group's emotion assignment was picked out of a box at random.
|
|
|
Marissa Moritz
Dance Instructor, PK-8th grade
|
Before pursuing education, I launched into a career in professional dance directly after receiving my bachelor degree in dance performance from Illinois State University. Not finding exactly what I was looking for in the professional dance world, I co-founded Chicago Dance Crash and created the world I wanted to both build and be a part of. Following my departure as a performing member of Chicago Dance Crash, I found my new home as an assistant artistic director and principal performer with Inspiración Dance Chicago, an international touring company with an emphasis on Latin dance.
Currently the dance teacher at Peirce School of International Studies, as well as a board member of Chicago Dance Crash, I have loved teaching dance and fostering the passion for the arts within my students. The opportunity to nurture expression and performance within the Peirce school community has been incredibly fulfilling. I constantly look to instill the ideas of perseverance, discipline, creativity, and expression through movement within each of the students that enters my room. |
