1. Teaching Folk Dance
Know your Students
Know your Dance
Set the stage

2. Your Students Age Number of Students in class Male/female ratio
Previous experience/ skill level
fitness level and intellectual capacity
disabilities
ethnic background
Amount of time

3. Your Dance The music The Movement Sequence
Combining music and movement

4. The Music Find the underlying beat Determine the meter (2’s or 3’s)
Introduction
Parts or verse and chorus
Say and Do in time to the music

5. The Movement Sequence Visualize the sequence
Determine the directions the body faces
Pick out the transitions
Fit movements to music

6. Say and Do Process Cueing (Say) Say and Do Action words
Directional cues
Counting
Singing
Clapping
Nonsense Syllables
Say and Do

7. Presentation Methods
Whole Part
Part, Whole, Part
Add-on

8. Combining music and movement
Practice dance from end to beginning (transition)
Individualize learning. Say and Do practice on own
Add style after the footwork has been learned

9. Setting the Stage Teach social etiquette Provide name tags
Prepare for co-ed situation
how will you get partners if needed

10. Teaching hints Give background information to spark interest
Play music early in the learning process
Demonstrate where all can see
In circle change location periodically or
Have all students face front in staggered lines
Teacher facing class must mirror movements
Teach at the tempo you will dance

11. Teach from known to unknown
Teach more difficult part first
Modify dances as needed for success
When students can “Say” then they can practice on their own.

12. Motivation Teachers attitude and behavior critical
Giving feedback (p, 75-76)
Students trained to self-check

13. Notation (handout)
Language to dance vocabulary
Rhythmic notation