Integrating principles from the Alexander Technique into a dance technique class can provide tools for facilitating a more coordinated use of the self. While the methodologies of Alexander Technique and dance technique may present differences, there are ways of applying the principles of Alexander within the context of a dance technique class that…

For nearly 25 years, the author has driven the highways and back roads of Illinois, teaching dance to school children, leading family programs, performing lecture/demonstrations, and choreographing technically simple, conceptually complex pieces with and for young dancers. The author's home base is Champaign/Urbana (C/U), twin cities with a…

Regardless of geographical limitations, community partnerships can flourish through videoconference technology. This article presents iDance Arizona (iDA) research as a tool for supporting the teaching and learning of dance in rural settings. This research focuses on university/K-12 collaborations and examines the pedagogy of videoconferencing in…

Highlights of the historical development of structured and creative/free dance experiences for children within the curriculum of early childhood education in the 20th century are sketched. Although some educators dissented with the practice, in the 1920s most dance activities for young children were structured. The following decade was…

The Biomechanical Principles and Movement Concepts Curriculum for third- through fifth-grade students is described. Basic movements and the amount of time each is to be taught are listed. Activities for application of dance to fitness based on biomechancial principles are given. (MT)

This approach to teaching creative dance to children attempts to narrow the gap between theory and practice. It is based on teaching processes definitions and creative functioning levels which encourage creative movement. The teacher's role is to facilitate student participation and ability at five levels of processing. (MT)

"Assessing Dance in Elementary Physical Education" is a special edition of the NASPE Assessment Series for K-12 Physical Education. Elementary school physical educators finally have a book that can help them plan assessments for dance, an important part of a comprehensive physical education curriculum. Through dance, students develop their motor…

This 50-minute VHS videotape is the second in a 2-volume series that presents 500 years of social dance, music, and fashion. It features dance and music of the 20th century, including; 1910s: animal dances, castle walk, apache, and tango; 1920s: black bottom and charleston; 1930s: marathon, movie musicals, big apple, and jitterbug; 1940s: rumba;…

This 59-minute VHS videotape is the second in a series of "How To Dance Through Time" videos. It provides 44 step combinations and how-to instructions to help viewers learn to dance the most popular dances of the early 20th century (the ragtime era), including: the wild animal dances (fox trot, horse trot, kangaroo hop, duck waddle, squirrel,…

This 48-minute VHS videotape is the sixth in a series of "How To Dance Through Time" videos. It shows the festivity of the 19th century group dances, enabling the viewer to plan and participate in the elegant opening to the ball, a refined square dance, and flirtatious Cotillion dancing games. Professional dancers demonstrate the…

Describes how a director-choreographer and teacher can help novice dancers present a polished performance with some encouragement, a little creativity and psychology, and some easy, solid stagecraft. Presents a four-step approach beginning with determining skill levels during auditions, planning choreography for rehearsals, holding a cast meeting,…

This paper is concerned with two related purposes. The first is to explicate what dance as an art form should comprise if it to be taught as a distinctive aspect of education in the curriculum. The second is to argue that dance, if taught in accordance with what is outlined, is not only an efficacious means in the development, understanding and…

Margaret H'Doubler brought the magic of dance to the 20th century, yet the 21st century has yet to find a person to rekindle the same public desire for dance education. Consequently, the future of dance education in the next century is hard to predict. Based on an informal survey of fellow advisory board members of Dance and the Child…

In this article, the author shares how she created a mini international conference of like-minded peers. Many freelance Teaching Artists feel isolated from a lack of peer contact in their work. That feeling was relieved last spring when the author received two similar e-mails sent, respectively, from 3,000 miles away to the east and to the west.…

Rhythm tap is sweeping the nation as an outlet for self-expression. Also known as "jazz tap" or "percussive tap," this art form's dominant focus is musicality, improvisation, simple-to-complex rhythms, and new styles. It reaches beyond technique and serves as an outlet for self-expression, independence, and spontaneity. Rhythm tap incorporates an…