Dances can tell stories! Long ago, people danced to tell about the harvest, the sea and their heroes. Let us make our own story dance.
Make a 1-minute group dance
- Choose a theme or story: the sea, Carnival, planting crops, a rainy day.
- Pick 6 to 8 steps that fit the story.
- Put them in order and practise.
- Everyone gives ideas; everyone listens.
- Perform for 1 minute. Bow at the end!
Traditional steps
Many Caribbean folk dances, like those you may see at a Best Village show, use simple steps:
- heel and toe: tap your heel forward, then your toe back
- turn: turn around on the spot
- sway: rock side to side
- shuffle: small sliding steps
Add 2 or 3 costume pieces: a scarf, a madras head-tie, a long skirt, a feather or a straw hat.
Dance a hero’s story
Find out 5 or 6 facts about a hero (someone in your family, or a hero of our country). Show each fact with a different movement: marching for being brave, reaching out for helping, rocking a baby for caring, lifting for strength, spinning for joy.
TRY ITStory dance
Choose a game.
Let’s practise
Try each one. Then tap Show answer to check.
1. How long is your group dance?
Show answer
About 1 minute.
2. Name two traditional dance steps.
Show answer
For example heel and toe, turn, sway, shuffle.
3. Name two costume pieces you could use.
Show answer
For example a scarf, a madras head-tie, a feather, a straw hat.
4. How can you be a good group member?
Show answer
Give ideas, listen to others, take turns, encourage.
5. Show a movement for being brave.
Show answer
For example marching strongly with head up.
Quick check
1. What does a dance need to tell a story?
Show answer
A theme, steps in order and movements that show the story.
2. Where can you see folk dances?
Show answer
For example at a Best Village show, a cultural concert or a festival.
3. How many facts about your hero should you find?
Show answer
5 or 6.
Words to know
Say these words with a grown-up. Can you use each one in a sentence?
theme · sequence · heel and toe · sway · shuffle · costume · folk dance · perform
Try it at home
- Learn heel and toe with a grown-up. Do it to a calypso or folk song.
- Find 5 facts about a hero in your family and make a movement for each.
- Make a costume piece from a scarf or old cloth.
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- create and present a 1-minute group dance of 6–8 steps on a theme
- give ideas and listen in a group
- use 3–4 traditional steps and 2–3 costume elements
- research and dance a hero’s story with 5–6 movements
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Next: Drama: Faces, Feelings and Frozen Pictures
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