Reflection #6 Creative Dance Wk 1

What new insights do you have regarding what children's creative dance is and why it is important?

I really enjoyed learning about dance in creative arts. When we were told to put on our dancing shoes for the class I thought to myself, "Oh Boy this class will be boring." I am continually shocked with how the arts are fun for students; they are also very informative. I liked the class; my interpretation of the class changed when I became aware of what dance was. I like the term creative movement, it helped me classify dance better in the classroom. I think dance is important because it allows students to express themselves in different ways, yet the body tells the story.

What important philosophical and practical things became clearer as you worked in class?

My mind worked in with the story to help my body and limbs create a movement to express the thought. It was fairly easy to identify the way the mind had to change gears in a sense to function the way we needed to process the information being presented. It became clear to me that I was learning things about the book I would not have any other way. Dance involved the best qualities of learning. I was able to share emotions through movement. A student may have a difficult time expressing emotion verbally or by other methods; dance makes it much easier to accomplish.

So What does that mean for your preparation for next week and for field? Now What do you need to do to incorporate this knowledge and skills into your practice?

I need to actually think about it in my teaching and how I will actually use it to tie in with other things trying to be taught. The whole week I found myself returning to the dance moves and the fun time we had in class. I am learning to think about how I will incorporate what I am learning into my teaching. I feel this is the key and the first step of using creative arts in the classroom; one must feel it will teach. How I will teach a certain subject with dance will come with experience as I learn the material and the core better.