Grades 2-3: Short Stories and Poetry Serve As Inspiration for Creating Independent (Solo)

Dance News

November/December 2017

Grades K-1: We are reading books that inspire us to dance! Using fun stories, dancers are creating their own movement sentences inspired by books, including Giraffes Can’t Dance, Rupert Can Dance and Hop Jump. This storytelling through dance leads us into our introduction to ballet, as we study how dancers tell stories through gesture & movement. In December, we learn all about the famous Nutcracker ballet.

Grades 2-3: Short stories and poetry serve as inspiration for creating independent (solo), partner (duet/trio) and group (ensemble) dances. We are practicing storytelling through dance as well as dance-making.

Grade 4: Fourth grade is participating in dance workshops and attending a special performance of Ailey II (December 7th). Alvin Ailey opened the first American dance company that welcomed dancers of all ethnicities. The Ailey organization continues this legacy by bringing together people of all backgrounds to perform his famous dances around the world. The Ailey School remains one of the most reputable dance schools in the country.

Grade 5: Fifth grade had an amazing time at the Breakin’ Convention at The Apollo! We even got to meet some of the performers. This trip to the historic Apollo theater inspired our study of hip-hop dance & culture. We are learning about hip-hop as a form of social activism, as well as about how hip-hop has evolved over time. We are popping, locking, six-stepping, freezing, tutting & floating into December. We finish the year with comparative analysis of hip-hop, ballet & other dance forms. Specifically, we compare & contrast nonverbal communication techniques among dance genres.

Dance club: Fifth grade dancers can join me Wednesdays during recess for extra dance time. Members will attend special dance performances (including The Nutcracker), attend a backstage tour with NYCB, and have additional opportunities to perform throughout the year. Interested students should come to our first meeting November 15th (room 504).

Winter show: Mark your calendars for our upcoming winter showcase for dance & music. Here is a list of classes who will be performing:

December 20th

· 001 (K-104)

· 002 (K-101)

· 005 (K-103)

· 103 (1-311)

· 104 (1-305)

· 203 (2-309)

· 204 (2-307)

December 21st

· 301 (3-306)

· 303 (3-308)

· 402 (4-409)

· 403 (4-410)

· 502 (5-405)

· 504 (5-412)

Calling Parents in The Arts:

Ms. Scott is hosting a student assembly on January 5th about careers in the performing arts. We have so many talented parents who would be wonderful panelists! If you are interested in participating by speaking about your career in the arts, please e-mail Ms. Scott at .

I will be hosting a student assembly on January 5th about careers in the performing arts. We have so many talented parents who would be wonderful panelists! If you are interested in participating by speaking about your career in the arts, please e-mail me at .