# Creating My Dance

## Overview

In this chapter, students engage in choreographing their own dance through structured steps, rhythmic patterns, circular movements, creative props, and an exploration of movement quality. The chapter develops rhythm, body coordination, creativity, and understanding of expressive movement inspired by both animals and nature.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Foot Movements and Rhythmic Steps

- **Basic Foot Positions**:
- Sama (feet together)
- Toe in front
- Heel front/side
- Cross toe (back/front)

- **Step Combinations**:
- Students practise various foot sequences using stomps, heel and toe movements.
- Example: Right-Right-Left-Left, Stomp-Stomp-Heel-Stomp.

- **Pattern Recognition**:
- Dance sequences encourage recognition of repeating left-right foot patterns.

- **Counting Steps**:
- Learners count 1 to 4 while performing each step, building rhythm through repetition.

### 2. Circular Movements

- **Individual and Group Circles**:
- Encourages spinning, swirling, twirling using feet and body.
- Activities include spinning on toes, knees, or flat-footed and with partners.

- **Progressive Levels**:
- Level 1: Circular feet movements.
- Level 2: Add hand movements (e.g., swinging, circular, up and down).
- Level 3: Combine movements with 4-beat rhythmic claps and formations.

- **Choreography Introduction**:
- Students form circular shapes and move with rhythm, forming the base for choreographic sequences.

### 3. Dance with Props

- **Crafting Dance Sticks**:
- Use pencils or rulers as bases.
- Decorate with coloured paper, glitter, ribbon, etc.
- Create vibrant props to enhance dance expression.

- **Creative Use**:
- Use props in group dances.
- Extend activity by creating additional items like pompoms or flags from recycled material.

### 4. Movement Qualities: Gentle and Vigorous

- **Types of Movements**:
- **Vigorous**: Strong, forceful movements like stomping, jumping, drumming.
- **Gentle**: Soft, quiet movements like tiptoeing, sliding, or smelling a flower.

- **Animal-Inspired Movements**:
- Lion chasing deer – Vigorous
- Elephant caring for baby – Gentle
- Mouse escaping a cat – Vigorous

- **Nature-Inspired Movements**:
- Storms and lightning – Vigorous
- Breeze and swaying trees – Gentle
- Fire: Can be both vigorous and gentle depending on situation.

### 5. Team Creativity Activity

- Students split into two groups.
- One group demonstrates gentle movements; the other, vigorous ones.
- Groups switch roles and creatively express new examples based on previous learning.

---

## New Terms and Definitions

| Term | Simple Definition |
|--------------|------------------|
| Sama | Standing with both feet together in balance |
| Stomp | To hit the ground strongly with your foot |
| Heel | The back part of the foot |
| Toe | The front part of the foot |
| Swirl | To move in a circular or twisting motion |
| Prop | An object used during a dance performance |
| Vigorous | Done with a lot of energy and force |
| Gentle | Soft and calm in action |
| Formation | A pattern or shape made by a group of people while dancing |
| Choreography | The planned arrangement of movements in a dance |

---

## Practice Questions

### Easy

1. **What does "Sama" mean in dance?**
**Answer**: Standing with feet together in balance.
**Explanation**: "Sama" is the starting pose with a steady body posture.

2. **What material can you use to make a dance stick?**
**Answer**: Pencil or ruler, and coloured paper.
**Explanation**: These materials help create a light and colourful prop.

3. **Give an example of a gentle movement.**
**Answer**: Tiptoeing.
**Explanation**: Tiptoeing is done softly without sound, showing gentleness.

### Medium

4. **How can circular movements be performed in a group?**
**Answer**: By holding hands and spinning in a circle together.
**Explanation**: This builds coordination and group rhythm.

5. **What is the difference between a gentle and a vigorous movement?**
**Answer**: Gentle movements are soft, vigorous are strong and forceful.
**Explanation**: Movement quality depends on the force and emotion behind it.

### Difficult

6. **Create a 4-count dance sequence using stomps and toe movements.**
**Answer**: Right stomp (1), Right stomp (2), Left toe cross (3), Right stomp (4).
**Explanation**: Follows a rhythmic 4-beat pattern with body balance.

7. **Why do we use props in dance?**
**Answer**: To make the dance visually interesting and expressive.
**Explanation**: Props add colour and enhance movement stories.

8. **Name one vigorous and one gentle movement seen in nature.**
**Answer**: Vigorous – Storm, Gentle – Breeze.
**Explanation**: Nature movements reflect different emotional qualities.

### Very Difficult

9. **Explain how choreography helps in a group dance.**
**Answer**: It helps arrange movements and positions to create a performance.
**Explanation**: Choreography is the blueprint of a dance, giving it structure.

10. **Design a short dance using hand circles and props. Describe your steps.**
**Answer**: Start in Sama, clap (1), spin stick in right hand (2), spin in place (3), raise both hands with props (4).
**Explanation**: Combines rhythm, props, and circular movement to form choreography.

---