Objective

By the end of this lesson, Avalon will be able to create a short dance routine that conveys a specific emotion or story using various dance elements such as body movement, space, and rhythm. She will learn how to express herself through dance and understand how to connect with an audience.

Materials and Prep

• Open space for dancing
• Music player (optional)
• Notebook and pencil for jotting down ideas
• Comfortable clothing for movement

Before the lesson, ensure that Avalon has a clear understanding of different emotions and stories she might want to express through dance. Discuss some examples of emotions like happiness, sadness, excitement, and fear.

Activities

• Emotion Exploration: Avalon will choose three different emotions and create simple movements that represent each one. For example, she might jump and spin for happiness or move slowly and gently for sadness.
• Story Dance: Avalon will pick a short story or a favorite book and create a dance that tells that story. She can use movements to represent different characters or events.
• Rhythm and Flow: Avalon will listen to a piece of music and create movements that match the rhythm. She can experiment with fast and slow movements to see how they change the feel of the dance.
• Group Performance: If possible, invite family members to watch Avalon perform her dance. She can explain the emotions or story behind her movements before she dances.

Talking Points

• "What do you feel when you think about happiness? Can you show me that with your body?"
• "How can we use dance to tell a story? What movements can represent the characters?"
• "Listen to the music closely. How does it make you want to move? Can you dance differently for fast parts and slow parts?"
• "Why is it important to connect with your audience? How can you make them feel what you feel when you dance?"
• "What was your favorite part of your dance? How did it make you feel to perform it?"