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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 14- Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze the techniques of modern dance choreography. They keep a journal as they observe the movement of people and animals. They use the movements to create a dance piece.
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Activity
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

The Nutcracker Teacher Resource Guide

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Clara becomes Marie, The Mouse King becomes a rat, and the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh becomes the setting for a modern interpretation of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. Intended as a resource guide for a 2012 performance, the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Broadway: Fosse

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the life and contributions of choreographer and director Bob Fosse. They analyze reviews, write a review after watching one of Bob Fosse's films, and view and compare Fosse dances to current music videos.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nureyev: Bringer of Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Nureyev's artistic endeavors and achievements. In this language and art lesson, students analyze  modes of dance expression at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. They focus on Martha Graham and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance Production

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students go through the experience of creating a dance. They use the correct vocabulary when creating the dance in writing. Students choreograph the steps needed to perform the dance in sequence. Then they perform the dance for final...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Folk Dance Explorations in the Choreographic Work of Modern Dance

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders participate in a activity guided by an essential question: in what ways does choreographer, Mark Morris' work, "The Office," reflect Eastern-European traditional folk dance? During the activity's first sessions, students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nureyev: After Petipa

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine dance and choreography in Russian history. In this Russian history lesson plan, students discover details about Russian ballet and the work of Marius Petipa as they conduct independent research and present their findings...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solo Dance Composition

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conclude the semester with an individual movement study utilizing basic elements of dance and choreography previously covered in class. They will choose from three choreographic prompts presented a few days before giving...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plodding Along: The Dan Wagoner Experiment

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students research Dan Wagoner and apply his choreographic ideas in "Plod" to dance study. In this art lesson, students discuss Dan Wagoner. Students select four shapes from "Plod" and connect in a dance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Performance Qualities" Dance Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders move across a space practicing a dance as they work on focus and energy.
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Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Martha Graham Dancers Return to the Stage

For Students 9th - 10th
This 2003 story from NPR discusses the return of the Martha Graham Dance Company to the stage. It includes images of her modern dance choreography, a selection of New York Times reviews of her work, and several links at the bottom of the...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Martha Graham Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
From the PBS series, American Masters, this is the biography for the American modern dance innovator, Martha Graham.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: West Side Story: Birth of a Classic

For Students 9th - 10th
View the online exhibit featuring photographs, documents--opening night telegraphs, letters, notes by Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein, set designs--and other items such as posters, DVD covers, and a pair of slippers worn in the...
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Website
Other

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the dance Revelations, choreographed by Alvin Ailey. The dance was first performed on January 31, 1960, and made Ailey an overnight sensation in the dance world. Includes video and photographs, as well as links to videos...
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Website
Other

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Repertory

For Students 9th - 10th
Description and information about works in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre repertory.
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: The Tech: Talent and Grace Make Alvin Ailey Amazingly Enjoyable

For Students 9th - 10th
Review of a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, provides information on dance style, performance aspects and choreography.
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Website
Other

Parsons Dance Company

For Students 9th - 10th
Profiles the dancers of the relatively new company and its primary choreographer, David Parsons, a former dancer with Paul Taylor. Offers history and video links.
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Website
Other

Paul Taylor Dance Company

For Students 9th - 10th
This site profiles the American choreographer Paul Taylor and gives an overview of his company's dancers and all of his works.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

For Students 6th - 8th
This brief encyclopedia entry describes the creation and development of the dance company Alvin Ailey began. There is a link to a website that will take you to the theater's web page.
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Website
Other

Conexao Danca

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers information about Brazilian dance, scheduled events in dance, connection of professional and amateur dancers around the country, an extensive bibliography about dance, pictures, articles and essays and a very...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Robert "Bob" Fosse Was Born

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site is provided for by America's Library. Most of the dance that is seen today in music videos and dance clubs came from a man who lived more that 80 years ago. Learn more about this dance legend at this site from the Library of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Christine Dakin in 'Phaedra'

For Students 9th - 10th
This 2003 story from NPR discusses the return of the Martha Graham Dance Company to the stage. It includes images of her modern dance choreography, a selection of New York Times reviews of her work, and several links at the bottom of the...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Martha Graham in 'Frontier'

For Students 9th - 10th
This 2003 story from NPR discusses the return of the Martha Graham Dance Company to the stage. It includes images of her modern dance choreography, a selection of New York Times reviews of her work, and several links at the bottom of the...
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Graphic
Curated OER

'Embattled Garden'

For Students 9th - 10th
This 2003 story from NPR discusses the return of the Martha Graham Dance Company to the stage. It includes images of her modern dance choreography, a selection of New York Times reviews of her work, and several links at the bottom of the...