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Websites

Step Up to Dance star star profile Photos Video
You'll find interactive educational resources, videos, games, learning tools and a wealth of information designed to build your understanding of and appreciation for dance.
Source: ArtsAlive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

American Ballroom Companion star profile Photos Video
Do you know the Butterfly Dance, how about the Heel-and-Toe Polka, or the Argentine Tango. This site from the Library of Congress contains a collection of over two hundred social dance manuals from 1490-1920 along with 75 video clips that illustrate portions of the dance instruction manuals.
Source: Library of Congress Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Ballet Dictionary star profile Photos Video
Quicktime video clipswill help your brush up on your ballet basics so you will know the difference between an arabesque and a rond de jambe!!
Source: American Ballet Theatre Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No


National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame star profile Photos
You will find brief biographies of American dancers like Fred Astaire, Martha Graham, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Ruth St. Denis, George Balanchine, and Isadora Duncan at this site.
Source: National Museum of Dance Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Vaslav Nijinsky star profile Photos
Learn more about this pioneer of dance at this online exhibit.
Source: New York Public Library Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

The Early Moderns star profile Photos
Learn more about the early years of modern dance at this online tutorial.
Source: University of Pittsburgh Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

An Invitation to Dance star profile Photos
Learn more about the history of social dance in the United States.
Source: American Antiquarian Society Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Society of Dance History Scholars star profile
You will find links to dance history sites as well as organizational information at this site.
Source: Society of Dance History Scholars Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Dance Timeline - At a Glance star star profile Photos
Trace the history of popular dance from the Farandole through the macarena.
Source: Street Swing Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

The History of Irish Dance star profile Photos
A brief look at the history of Irish dance.
Source: Ireland's Eye Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Chinese Dance History star profile Photos
A very brief look at the history of Chinese dance.
Source: New York Chinese Cultural Center Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Japanese Dance History star profile Photos
A brief look at the history of Japanese dance.
Source: Azuma-ru Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No


A Dancer's Journal: Martha Graham
This interactive site introduces students to the life and work of Martha Graham. Students will learn about specific Graham dances through the journals of Jordy Kandinsky, a (fictional) new member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. In Jordy's journals, students will find letters, newspaper articles, checklists, photographs, video clips, and music that illuminate various aspects of the dance Jordy is learning.

Online Video

An American Ballroom Companion Video Examples
See examples of social dances from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Source: Library of Congress

Dance in America: Wolf Trap's Face of America
Four of the country's most innovative choreographers combine the grandeur of America's national parks with the art of the camera in Dance in America: Wolf Trap's Face of America, an on-location spectacular. Source: PBS

Jerome Robbins
Something to Dance About
See clips from this American Masters profile of Jerome Robbins. Source: PBS

Excerpts from The Nutcracker
Take a peek at some of the most famous scenes from the beloved winter favorite, The Nutcracker.
Source: ArtsEdge


Lesson Plans

Grades K-4

Island Breezes: Exploring Hula Dance
In this lesson, students will learn about the history of hula, the gestures and movements of hula, and the meaning of this Hawaiian dance.Source: ArtsEdge

Jazz Music, Dance, and Poetry
In this lesson, students will be introduced to jazz dance and jazz music. They will explore basic jazz dance movements, and will create a cinquain poem inspired by jazz music. Source: ArtsEdge

Ballet and Classical Music
Students are introduced to the conceptual and practical elements of classical ballet as they learn ballet history, vocabulary, and steps. Source: ArtsEdge

Musical Harlem
Students will learn to identify musical styles and musicians associated with Harlem, focusing on jazz. Source: ArtsEdge

The Monkey Dance: Exploring Balinese Culture
In this lesson, students will learn about the country of Bali and the story of Ramayana and research varied aspects of the sounds, costumes, and images of the Monkey Dance. Source: ArtsEdge

You're Invited to a Ceili: Exploring Irish Dance
Students listen to Irish music, learn about ceilis, which are festive dance celebrations, view the intricate costumes worn by Irish dancers, and listen to an Irish poem. Source: ArtsEdge

Grades 5-8

Living Pictures Representing The History Of Black Dance - Grades 7-8
In this unit, students study the history of black dance through paintings, books, photography, and poetry. Source: Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute

Discovering Russian Folk Dance - Grades 5-8
Students learn the Russian folk dance "Troika" and research one aspect of Russian culture. Source: ArtEdge

Moccasins Are Made for Dancing
Tomie DePaola's Native American legends lend themselves to the study of Native American dance movements. Source: ArtsEdge

Interpreting Mythology Through Dance - Grades 5-8
In this lesson, students learn about the mythological 12-hour journey of the sun god Re. Working individually and in groups, the students choreograph a movement that represents one of the hours in Re's journey. Source: ArtsEdge

The Language of Ballet
Students learn basic ballet vocabulary and associate it with the actual physical movement. Source: ArtsEdge

Grades 9-12

Baila! Latin Dance in the Spanish Classroom - Grades 9-12
Students demonstrate and learn about the Latin dances of salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, cha cha, bachata, and samba through oral group presentations on the dance. Students will also research and report on information about the country from which the dance originated. Source: ArtsEdge

Nureyev: After Petipa
Nureyev’s early life and work were affected by changing social, political, and cultural forces in Russia. His artistic genius was influenced by the work of Marius Petipa. Source: ArtsEdge

Nureyev: Bringer of Light
This lesson focuses on the alignment of Nureyev’s artistic endeavors and achievements in the dance world of the West. Source: ArtsEdge

Nureyev: The Unconquerable Will
This lesson provides an overview of how creative expression developed in the West, particularly in the development of dance. Source: ArtsEdge

Chance Art: Pollock, Cage and Cunningham
Students identify commonalities and differences between dance and other disciplines.
Source: ArtWorks

Interactive Gateway Curriculum
Students learn about 1960’s choreographers Yvonne Rainer, Steve Paxton, Deborah Hay, Trisha Brown, Merce Cunningham, Anna Halprin and their choreographic devices. Source: ArtWorks