Project: Expressing Emotions Through Movement Dance

Context

Dance is a form of expression that transcends words and allows us to connect with our inner world and the environment around us in a profound way. Often seen as mere entertainment, it encompasses much more than that. "Dance" is an art form that involves bodily movement, usually rhythmic, used as a form of expression, social interaction, spiritual presentation, or performance.

Dance holds a significant place in almost every culture around the world. Not only does it serve to tell stories, celebrate special occasions, or express emotions, but it is also important for physical and mental development. Dancing can improve coordination, balance, flexibility, and stamina. Furthermore, it offers emotional benefits such as increased self-esteem and confidence, as well as fostering teamwork and cooperation when performed in a group.

Introduction

“Movement Dance” is a key concept in dance that refers to how movements are utilized to express an idea, emotion, or tell a story. It entails much more than just executing steps correctly; it is about how the movement is performed and the emotion and intention behind it.

Every dance movement has four main attributes - time, weight, flow, and space. "Time" is the speed or slowness of a movement. "Weight" refers to the lightness or heaviness of a movement. "Flow" is the continuity or abruptness of a movement. And "space" is the area that the movements occupy. These are the building blocks of all dance and the key to expressing in movement.

Improvisation is also an important part of dance. It allows dancers to explore ideas, emotions, and movements in an authentic and original way, freeing their creativity and individuality. Improvisation is not only a useful skill for dance, but also a life skill that encourages problem-solving, decision making, and critical thinking.

In this project, you will delve into the world of dance and movement dance. You will explore the theory and practice of dance, and experiment with creating your own movement vocabularies and repertoires. Learn how dance can be an art form, a means of expression, and a tool for developing personal and social skills.

To further dive into the topic, you may refer to the following resources:

1. Book: "The Dancing Body: The Language of Movement" by Graziela Rodrigues
2. Video: Dance Explained: Movement, Space, and Time in Dance
3. Website: Dance Group - Movement

Practical Activity

Activity Title: “Expressing Emotions through Movement Dance”

Project Goal

The goal of this project is for students, with guidance and supervision from the teacher, to create a group dance that expresses a specific story or theme through movement dance.

Detailed Project Description

Students will work in groups of 3 to 5 people to create a dance performance that conveys a specific narrative, emotion, or idea, utilizing the core elements of movement dance: time, weight, space, and flow.

The project will be carried out in four stages: Exploration, Creation, Rehearsals, and Presentation, followed by the elaboration of a written report.

1. Exploration

Students will explore the core elements of movement dance and improvisation. They may watch dance videos, participate in movement and dance workshops, or experiment with different dance moves and styles on their own.

2. Creation

Based on their exploration, each group will create a dance that expresses a specific narrative, emotion, or idea. They will work together to design the dance's movements, sequence, and rhythm, ensuring that all group members are involved in the creation.

3. Rehearsals

During this phase, groups will rehearse and refine their dance as they see fit. They may experiment with different movements, sequences, and styles to enhance their performance and expression.

4. Presentation

Finally, each group will present their dance to the class. These will be recorded and assessed based on creativity, expression, group cooperation, and understanding and application of movement dance elements.

Materials Required

• Dance space
• Music (in accordance with the chosen theme)
• Comfortable clothing for dancing

Step-by-Step Process for Carrying Out the Activity

1. Each group selects a theme, story, or emotion they wish to convey through their dance.
2. The group explores the concepts of time, weight, space, and flow in relation to their theme, improvising and experimenting with different movements.
3. The group assembles their movements into a structured dance sequence, creating unique choreography.
4. The groups regularly rehearse their dance, adjusting and modifying as necessary to best express their theme.
5. The groups present their dances to the class, and the performances are recorded.

Project Deliverables

Upon completion of the project, in addition to the dance presentation, each group must submit a written report covering the following topics:

1. Introduction: The report should begin with an introduction contextualizing the theme of the dance, its relevance and real-world application, and the goal of the project.

2. Development: Here, the group should explain the theoretical concepts of movement dance and the methodology used to create their dance. They should describe the dance in detail, including the movements, sequences, music, and how these relate to the chosen theme. They should present and discuss the results of the presentation.

3. Conclusion: The group should conclude the work by restating their main points, making explicit the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn about the project.

4. Bibliography: Students will indicate the sources they consulted to work on the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

Through working on this project, students will have the opportunity to experience and analyze movement factors in practice, experiment with improvisation techniques, and present movement as an art component. Furthermore, they will develop socio-emotional skills such as time management, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, and proactivity.