Contextualization

Urban dance, also known as street dance, is a cultural phenomenon that originated in the suburbs and urban areas. It represents the creative expression of young people who, through their movements, transmit stories, feelings, and their visions of the world. In turn, these dances are characterized by their specific rhythmic movements, which have developed spontaneously and are often improvised.

Urban dances have evolved over time and today include a variety of styles, such as breakdance, popping, locking, and house dance. Each of these dances has its own history and evolution, which are linked to changes in the social, cultural, and political scenarios of urban areas over the decades.

Introduction

Understanding urban dance goes beyond learning the dance steps and movements. It requires an understanding of the historical and cultural context in which these dances were formed. The social value that these dances hold for the groups that practice them is significant, as they often function as a way to get away from the violence and hardships of urban areas.

In addition, urban dances are a valuable means of self-creation and expression, providing a way for practitioners to express their identities and experiences. Ultimately, they promote positive social interactions and contribute to the development of skills such as creativity, teamwork, and resilience.

To delve deeper into the subject and better understand urban dance, you can consult the following sources:

1. Book "History of dance", by Ivon Curi. This book traces the evolution of dances throughout history, including urban dances.
2. Dance videos on YouTube: There are numerous online videos that showcase various forms of urban dance, such as "Breakdance for beginners", which teaches the basic breakdance moves.
3. Documentaries that tell the story of urban dances, such as "Rize" available on Netflix.
4. Academic articles about urban dance and their social and cultural influence, available in databases such as Scielo or Google Scholar.

It is important to note that the research is not limited to these references. It is important that you seek to diversify your sources of information in order to obtain a more complete understanding of the subject, always paying attention to the reliability of the source.

Practical Activity: Let's Dance?

Project Objective

The aim of this activity is to immerse students in the culture of urban dance. Students will research a specific urban dance style, learn and practice the basic movements, and finally create their own choreography.

Detailed Description of the Project

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members and will be assigned a specific urban dance style to research and practice (e.g., breakdance, popping, locking, house dance).

Each group will have one week to complete the following series of activities:

1. Research: Students should research the assigned dance style. They should focus on understanding the origin, cultural and social relevance, and characteristic movements of the dance style.

2. Practice: After the research, students should try to learn the basic movements of their dance style. They can use tutorial videos on the internet if necessary.

3. Choreography Creation: Finally, each group should create their own choreography with the movements they have learned.

Required Materials

To complete this project, students will need:

• Internet access for research and viewing of video tutorials.
• Adequate space for dance practice.
• Comfortable clothing for dancing.
• Video recording equipment (can be a cell phone).

Step by Step

1. Formation of groups (3 to 5 students) and assignment of dance styles.
2. Research on the assigned dance style (origin, cultural and social relevance, characteristic movements).
3. Learning the basic movements of the dance style.
4. Creation of original choreography.
5. Recording of the choreography performance.
6. Preparation of the project report.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group must present:

1. Choreography Video: The video should show the choreography created by the group. It is important that all group members participate in the choreography.

2. Project Report: The report should contain the four topics mentioned above (Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used).

   Introduction: the report should begin with a summary of urban dances in general and then delve into the urban dance style researched by the group.

   Development: this section should include a detailed description of the research conducted (origin, cultural and social relevance, characteristic movements of the dance style), the process of learning the movements and creating the choreography. Any challenges encountered and how they were overcome should also be mentioned here.

   Conclusion: students need to express what they have learned throughout the project, the relevance of urban dance styles in society, and the challenges and learning obtained during the execution of the project.

   Bibliography: students should list all sources they used for research, whether they were books, articles, or online videos.

Remember! The creation of the choreography and the writing of the report should be done by the group as a whole, promoting collaboration and teamwork.