Search the California Content Standards

Enduring Understanding: Space, time, and energy are basic elements of dance.
Essential Question(s): How do dancers work with space, time and energy to communicate artistic expression?
Process Component(s): Express

Performance Standard(s):
a. Identify and demonstrate directions for moving the body in general space (e.g., forward, backwards, sideways, up, down, and turning) and finding and returning to a place in space. b. Identify speed of movement as fast or slow. Move to varied rhythmic sounds at different tempi. c. Move with opposing dynamics.

Enduring Understanding: Dancers use the mind-body connection and develop the body as an instrument for artistry and artistic expression.
Essential Question(s): What must a dancer do to prepare the mind and body for artistic expression?
Process Component(s): Embody

Performance Standard(s):
a. Demonstrate basic full body locomotor, non-locomotor movement, and body patterning with spatial relationships. b. Move in general space and start and stop on cue while maintaining personal space. c. Identify and move body parts and repeat movements upon request.

Enduring Understanding: Dance performance is an interaction between performer, production elements, and audience that heightens and amplifies artistic expression.
Essential Question(s): How does a dancer heighten artistry in a public performance?
Process Component(s): Present

Performance Standard(s):
a. Dance for others in a designated area or space. b. Use a prop as part of a dance.

Enduring Understanding: Dance is perceived and analyzed to comprehend its meaning.
Essential Question(s): How is a dance understood?
Process Component(s): Analyze

Performance Standard(s):
a. Identify a movement in a dance by repeating it. b. Demonstrate an observed or performed dance movement.

Enduring Understanding: Dance is interpreted by considering intent, meaning, and artistic expression as communicated through the use of the body, elements of dance, dance technique, dance structure, and context.
Essential Question(s): How is dance interpreted?
Process Component(s): Interpret

Performance Standard(s):
Observe a movement and share impressions.

Enduring Understanding: Criteria for evaluating dance vary across genres, styles, and cultures
Essential Question(s): What criteria are used to evaluate dance?
Process Component(s): Critique

Performance Standard(s):
Find a movement in a dance that was fun to watch. Repeat it and explain why it is fun to watch and do.

Enduring Understanding: As dance is experienced, all personal experiences, knowledge, and contexts are integrated and synthesized to interpret meaning.
Essential Question(s): How does dance deepen our understanding of ourselves, other knowledge, and events around us?
Process Component(s): Synthesize

Performance Standard(s):
a. Recognize an emotion expressed in dance movement that is watched or performed. b. Observe a dance work. Identify and imitate a movement from the dance, and ask a question about the dance.

Enduring Understanding: Dance literacy includes deep knowledge and perspectives about societal, cultural, historical, and community contexts.
Essential Question(s): How does knowing about societal, cultural, historical and community experiences expand dance literacy?
Process Component(s): Relate

Performance Standard(s):
Show a dance movement experienced at home or elsewhere.

Enduring Understanding: 4.1 Performers’ interest in and knowledge of musical works, understanding of their own technical skill, and the context for a performance influence the selection of repertoire.
Essential Question(s): How do performers select repertoire?
Process Component(s): Select

Performance Standard(s):
With substantial guidance, demonstrate and state personal interest in varied musical selections.

Enduring Understanding: 4.2 Analyzing creators’ context and how they manipulate elements of music provides insight into their intent and informs performance.
Essential Question(s): How does understanding the structure and context of musical works inform performance?
Process Component(s): Analyze

Performance Standard(s):
a. With substantial guidance, explore and demonstrate awareness of musical contrasts such as high/low, loud/soft, fast/slow.