What can the style of dance (movements, costumes, setting, etc.) tell us about someone’s culture?

How does dancing create or shape someone’s culture?

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Lesson Summary

The Nutcracker has been a beloved Christmastime tradition around the world for many years. In Part One of this lesson, explore how classical ballet dancers tell the magical story through body movements, simple gestures, and facial expressions. In Part Two, discover and compare holiday dance traditions from India and Japan, and discuss the role that dance plays in cultural celebration and expression around the world. Part Three invites students to create a cultural dance for their own community. 

Objectives

• Students will analyze how dancers create characters and tell stories through movement, and create simple choreographic gesture patterns for characters.

• Students will discover and compare holiday dance traditions from different world cultures.

• Students will respond to compelling questions about the role of dance plays in expressing and shaping culture.