Back to NDEO Site
Materials: paper, markers, tape
Dancers, today we are going to start by learning a little more about our classmates.
Break dancers up into partners or small groups.
Talk to your partner(s) and figure out some things you have in common. One place to start is that we all take this dance class, but I bet you can find more things you share! These could be hobbies, things you’re interested in, things you’re good at, your family traditions, or anything else you can think of.
Give dancers some time to discuss.
Next, share with your partner(s) some things about yourself that are unique. What makes you different from each other?
Bring the group back together to discuss the following questions all together:
Pass out markers and paper. Ask dancers to write a welcoming message to other dancers to hang on the mirror, like “Dance is for everyone” or “Our studio loves you!”
Materials: video, paper, markers, tape
Debbie Allen (b. Jan. 11, 1950) is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, director, actor, and producer. She remembers not being allowed to have some dance opportunities as a child because of her race and the way her body looked. Some of you may have seen the documentary about her dance school in LA, Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. We’ll start today with a short video of her dancing, from a TV show called Fame from the 1980s.
Watch the video, then pose the following questions to the whole class:
Thank you for sharing, dancers! At our school/studio, we believe that everyone should have the chance to explore dance. That’s a big part of what Love Your Body Week means to us!
Pass out markers/paper, and ask them to write an empowering message for other dancers to read, to encourage someone who may feel discouraged, e.g. “Keep dancing - let your unique light shine!” Post statements on the mirror.
Materials: device with video, markers, paper, tape
We want all dancers to feel confident and accepted, no matter what. Today, we are celebrating LYBW by watching several videos of a dancer named Shaheem Sanchez. Shaheem became deaf when he was 4 years old, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a professional dancer. Shaheem is also an actor, dance educator, and choreographer who inspires dancers of all abilities to learn to dance, including his younger siblings!
Let's watch him dance with his younger brother:
Video 1: KIDA | Pooh Brezzy - Taxi Challenge @KidaTheGreat Ft @Shaheem
Now we are going to watch an interview with Shaheem:
Video 2: "Deaf Dancer": Behind The Scenes With Shaheem Sanchez
After sharing the video, ask the following questions to the whole class one at a time:
Thank you for sharing your ideas, dancers. We agree with Shaheem and believe that everyone should be welcomed and celebrated. Each dancer brings their unique talents to the art form, and that is what makes dance so beautiful. Today we would love for you to help us create artwork for our mirrors that shares that message.
Pass out paper and markers.
Just like Shaheem, we can inspire and celebrate others. On your paper today, we would like you to write down something you can do to have a positive impact. For example: “I can inspire others with my kind words” “I can include others” or “I can encourage other dancers” etc.
Have dancers post their completed projects on the mirror. While putting up artwork, take the opportunity to reflect on how it feels to see positive messages on the mirror.
Dancers today we are going to think about things about ourselves that make us feel strong, and that help us to stay confident when life gets tough.
Ask the following questions to the whole group:
We can think about these things you love about yourself as your superpowers! Take some time to think of a superhero name inspired by something you love about yourself, and then draw a superhero self portrait. These names can be anything you want, and I can help you come up with one if you’re stuck. Some examples: Captain Kindness, Super Jazzer (they can be silly)! If you’re having trouble with this part, choose Super (your name).
Pass out markers and paper, and give dancers some time to work on their portraits. Once they are finished, bring the group back together and ask folks to share their drawings with the group if they feel comfortable. Then, ask the following questions to the whole class:
Hang portraits on the mirror.
Materials: paper, markers, tape Pose the following questions to the whole group: • What are some of the things our bodies allow us to do? • What can we do to keep our bodies healthy (discourage “dieting talk” - don’t discuss certain foods that shouldn’t be eaten, rather state that a wide variety of foods can help us stay healthy) • Do we all look the same? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? • Do you think that it’s ever okay for kids to tease each other for being different? • Why do you think it’s important to love and appreciate our bodies? Give each dancer a piece of paper/markers ask them to draw a picture of a part of their body, and write a statement about what it allows them to do. “I like my _______ because it helps me to ________.” We are looking for functional answers (i.e. a part that helps them to do something - I love my legs because they can jump high). The artwork prompt for this age is the same as the 5-7 year old age group, but it often inspires more complex answers.
Materials: mirror templates, markers, tape Pose the following questions to the whole group: • Here in our studio we have these great big mirrors up on the walls. Now this week we are covering them up a little at a time for Love Your Body Week, but normally we face them and use them for class right? What do the mirrors help us do in class? • You probably have lots of mirrors in your house too. What do we use those for? • Mirrors can be really useful. But it’s important to remember to always think and say kind things to ourselves when we look in the mirror, like “I am strong” or “I am beautiful”. Why do you think that’s important? Pass out the mirror template pages. Mirror Prompt Handout We have some papers with pictures of mirrors on them for you today. At the top of your mirror it says “I am...”, and we would like for you to write or draw some of the amazing things you are in the mirror part here. We’ll post your mirror on our big mirror today. When LYBW is over, you can take it home to put up on one of your own mirrors at home, to remind yourself of all of these wonderful things about you when you look into that mirror too!
Materials: device with video, paper, markers, tape We have a video to show you today of a tap dancer named Evan Ruggiero. One thing that makes Evan unique is that he only has one leg. When asked about what he thinks about being a dancer with one leg, Evan answered that it makes him “a more beautiful dancer”. Video: LA Tap Fest 2012 - Evan Ruggiero After watching the video, ask the following questions to the whole class: • What did you notice about Evan’s dancing? • Evan says he is “a more beautiful dancer” because of his unique body. Do you agree? • Do you think that people with all different kinds of bodies can learn to dance? Come back together to discuss as a group (allowing dancers to share with the whole class if they are comfortable). Hand out papers and markers and ask dancers to write a statement about what makes them unique as a dancers, i.e. “I am a beautiful dancer because...” Encourage them to speak positively about something that makes them different, e.g. “I am a beautiful dancer because I dance with my whole heart” or “I am a beautiful dancer because my strong legs give me power”. Post statements on the mirror.
P
Materials: device with video, paper, markers, tape Dancers today we are going to start with a video of a dancer named Ingrid Silva. She is from Brazil, and now dances for a ballet company called Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. Video: This Dancer is Turning the Ballerina Stereotype on Its Head After watching the video, ask the following questions one at a time to the whole class: • What do you notice about Ingrid as a dancer? You can help dancers with words - is she strong? Graceful? • In the video Ingrid says that it’s her difference that make her a stronger dancer. What are some unique things about you? • After dancers share: So those are all things that make you stronger dancers, too! • Ingrid talks about choosing not to give up. Do you think that’s important? Why? • What helped her to keep going? • Ingrid also says that “anyone can be a dancer”. We think that’s really important. Do you think that’s important? Why? Pass out paper and markers. We asked you before to tell us some unique things about you. Think about one of the things you chose, and we’re going to write them on these papers. You could start your sentence with “I am a strong dancer because...” You can draw a picture if you’d like to, too! After you’re finished we’ll post them on the mirror.
Materials: paper, markers, tape Break dancers out into pairs or small groups. One of the things we do during Love Your Body Week is celebrate all the things that make each of us unique. We can use our hands as one little example of that idea.
• Compare your hand to your partners - there are many things about them that are the same, and they function in the same way, but what looks different about them? What is unique about your hand? • List for your partner some of the things about you that are unique - these could be things about how you look or what your body can do, or about who you are as a person. • After listening to your partner, you can add to their list! What do you see that makes your partner unique? Once each dancer has shared with their partner(s), come back together as a group. Ask dancers to trace their hand on their paper. Have them write “I am...” in the palm, and then something that they like about themselves in each of the five fingers. Post hands on the mirror.