Nursery World - Children as choreographers

To become choreographers of their own creative dance, children need a clear idea of the intention of the dance and the meanings to be expressed: an idea, a story or event, or purely the sensation of moving in space. Using a stimulus can clarify a theme for a dance, which should be linked to the children's movement learning needs, and may also reinforce topic work (for example, on minibeasts).

Using a stimulus can clarify a theme for a dance, which should be linked to the children's movement learning needs, and may also reinforce topic work (for example, on minibeasts).

Once children have grasped the effect to be created, they can focus on developing possible movements and selecting the ones to be combined in a short dance sequence.

A dance composition may be constructed very simply:

* improvised between moments of silence to frame the piece

* a repeated pattern

* two or three contrasting sections

* a 'sandwich' with a central section that contrasts with the first and last sections.

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