Government of Manitoba
Dance language & performance skills

Dance language & performance skills (DA-L1)»
Students demonstrate understanding of and facility with the elements of dance* in a variety of contexts.

 

Students who have achieved expectations for this grade are able to

Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
use movement to demonstrate understanding of the body as the dancer’s instrument

5-8 DA-L1.1
Appendix A: The Body
use movement to demonstrate an integrated understanding of space in dance: dimensions, directions, levels, and pathways)

5-8 D-L1.2
Appendix B: Space
use movement to demonstrate understanding of relationships in dance

5-8 D-L1.3
Appendix C: Relationships
create varied movement qualities by combining motion factors in dance

5-8 D-L1.4
Appendix E: Movement Qualities
use movement to demonstrate understanding of expressive gestures (e.g., social, ritualistic, functional, emotional, character) in dance

5-8 D-L1.5
use appropriate dance vocabulary to label, describe, and analyze elements of dance

5-8 D-L1.6

*Elements of dance: the body, space, relationships, and motion factors and gestures, movement qualities, and expressive gestures
See Appendices A to E.

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key concepts: the body
 The Body Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
Alignment and Control demonstrate basic elements of stationary alignment, posture and positioning demonstrate basic elements of alignment, posture and positioning in motion
control and coordinate movement with attention to starting positions, initiating movements, connecting movements, transitions, stopping movements, and end positions
  demonstrate control of body centre, placement, and balance  
Parts use arm and leg gestures (e.g., to the front, side and back, in opposition)  
lead and support movement with various body parts, joints, and surfaces (.e.g., make a figure 8 using various body parts such as head, shoulders, ribs, hips & knees)
  explore muscle function and use of abduction (movement away from the centre of the body), adduction (movement toward the midline of the body), and circumduction (circular movements like moving the arms in an arc)
Shapes identify and hold balanced body shapes using various body parts as bases of support, alone and with others/td>
    hold and identify symmetrical and asymmetrical body shapes, alone and with others
Actions identify and perform a full range of body actions (e.g., locomotion, elevation, turns, rolls, falls, recoveries, gestures)
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