Contextualization

Urban dances emerged in the streets of large cities, amidst urban chaos, with movements allied to body expression and musical rhythm. These dances, which encompass styles like hip hop, breakdance, house, and popping, have their origins in the young, marginalized, and resistant culture of the outskirts. They represent a form of individual and collective expression, being a dynamic and alternative way to encounter, question, and challenge social reality.

Urban dance is a democratic art, in the sense that it does not require a specific space to be practiced - it can be performed anywhere, whether on the streets, parks, schoolyards, or dance studios. In this way, it becomes accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, age, or social background.

Introduction

In our approach to the theme of urban dances for the physical education discipline, we will explore the origin and evolution of this movement, the different styles that compose it, and the cultural and social role that these dances play in society.

We will study the language of the body, the use of space, and the relationship with rhythm in urban dance. We will analyze its aesthetic characteristics and how they relate to other forms of art. We will also examine the influences and contributions of this type of dance to the evolution of the contemporary musical and artistic scene.

Furthermore, we will explore urban dance from an interdisciplinary perspective, treating it not only as a physical activity but also as a cultural and social expression. To do this, it will be necessary to combine knowledge from history, geography, sociology, and music, thus creating a multidisciplinary learning project.

Practical Activity: Creation of an Urban Dance Performance

Project Objective

This project aims to research, create, and present an urban dance performance, in order to explore the constitutive elements of urban dances and develop creativity, collaboration, and teamwork.

Detailed Project Description

The project will be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students and will last four weeks. During this period, students should research the different styles of urban dances and their origins, choose a style to delve into, create a choreography, and present it to the class. Additionally, each group must produce a report documenting the research, creation, and presentation process of the dance.

Necessary Materials

• Internet access for research
• Adequate space for rehearsals and presentation
• Sound system for music playback

Steps to Carry Out the Activity

1. Research: Each group should research different styles of urban dances and their origins. The research results should be documented and will be part of the introduction to the final report.

2. Style Selection: Each group should choose a dance style to delve into. The selection criteria can be the interest of the members, identification with the style, or the feasibility of rehearsing and presenting the dance. The justification for the choice will be part of the report's development.

3. Choreography Creation: Each group should create a choreography using the characteristic movements of the chosen dance style. The creation process should be documented and will be part of the report's development.

4. Rehearsal and Presentation: Each group should rehearse the choreography and present it to the class. The presentation should be recorded for review and self-assessment. Perceptions and learnings will be part of the report's conclusions.

5. Final Report Elaboration: Each group should elaborate a report documenting the entire project process. The report should include:

• Introduction: Contextualization of the theme, relevance of urban dances, description of the chosen style, and project objective.
• Development: Detailed explanation of the research process, style selection, choreography creation, rehearsals, and presentation. Students should explain the theory behind the chosen dance style, the methodology used for creation, and the results obtained.
• Conclusion: Recap of the main points, learnings acquired, conclusions drawn, and possible applications of the project to students' lives.
• Bibliography: Sources used for research and project elaboration.

The report should be written clearly and organized, following the proposed structure. The report's writing should be done collaboratively by group members, in order to exercise collaboration and communication among students.

Project Deliverables

• Dance presentation
• Presentation recording
• Final written report

The project deliverables allow students to demonstrate the knowledge acquired and the skills developed during the process. The dance performance allows students to demonstrate the practical understanding of the studied dance style, while the report offers an opportunity for reflection on the process and a way to demonstrate the theoretical understanding of the topic.