Covering a Year 7 Dance Lesson for PE...
With my position, I only teach Dance to Years 10 and 11 who are currently working through their BTEC Performing Arts (Dance) course. So, when asked to cover a Year 7 Boys' Dance Lesson for one of our PE teachers yesterday, it was an interesting insight into what content Key Stage 3 students learn through Dance in Physical Education.
All I knew was that they were looking at 'Dance by Chance' by Merce Cunningham (except the boys' did not actually know who Merce Cunningham was, despite the fact that he is the Dance by Chance practitioner?!?!?!)
I asked the boys when they entered if their PE teacher warms them up before rehearsing. Their answer shocked me...
My initial reaction was and internal "oh, my..." before getting them on their feet so that they may limber up appropriately before dancing.
The problem was, during their limber with me, they started tiring early and sitting out! How can one be able to dance in lesson if they lack in stamina so early on in a limber session?
It is hard not to critique the approach PE teachers with no Dance background have on Dance lessons in a Physical Education setting, especially when covering and not seeing how the PE teachers teach the students. But the lack of knowledge on the importance of limbering the body ready for such a physical activity baffled me!
My intention is to get into a Dance class as an observer to see the process of the lesson, question the approach, ask about the curriculum, and find out where there are missing links between teaching Dance and the students connecting to the health benefits behind the topic.
Looking at my practice as a dance teacher, especially from coming from a background in musical theatre, where our limber warm ups were taken seriously in order to prevent injury as well as benefit our technical ability, I was concerned for how students are taught Dance in a way that is not through a specialist. The boys were ignorant to identifying the benefits of Dance and the fusion of the art form and health benefits behind it actually also improves performance quality.
After all... footballers are required to perform warm up activities before entering a World Cup stadium, are they not? They may not mid-game start squatting or set up apparatus to weave in and out, but the application of the technique in that warm up has an effect on their physical health and a domino effect in to improving their performance, right?
All I knew was that they were looking at 'Dance by Chance' by Merce Cunningham (except the boys' did not actually know who Merce Cunningham was, despite the fact that he is the Dance by Chance practitioner?!?!?!)
I asked the boys when they entered if their PE teacher warms them up before rehearsing. Their answer shocked me...
"No."
My initial reaction was and internal "oh, my..." before getting them on their feet so that they may limber up appropriately before dancing.
The problem was, during their limber with me, they started tiring early and sitting out! How can one be able to dance in lesson if they lack in stamina so early on in a limber session?
It is hard not to critique the approach PE teachers with no Dance background have on Dance lessons in a Physical Education setting, especially when covering and not seeing how the PE teachers teach the students. But the lack of knowledge on the importance of limbering the body ready for such a physical activity baffled me!
My intention is to get into a Dance class as an observer to see the process of the lesson, question the approach, ask about the curriculum, and find out where there are missing links between teaching Dance and the students connecting to the health benefits behind the topic.
Looking at my practice as a dance teacher, especially from coming from a background in musical theatre, where our limber warm ups were taken seriously in order to prevent injury as well as benefit our technical ability, I was concerned for how students are taught Dance in a way that is not through a specialist. The boys were ignorant to identifying the benefits of Dance and the fusion of the art form and health benefits behind it actually also improves performance quality.
After all... footballers are required to perform warm up activities before entering a World Cup stadium, are they not? They may not mid-game start squatting or set up apparatus to weave in and out, but the application of the technique in that warm up has an effect on their physical health and a domino effect in to improving their performance, right?
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