Minds On
Today’s vocabulary
Press the following tabs to access today’s vocabulary.
An activity or experience that is fun and enjoyable.
A special event or occasion with fun social activities including dance, music, food, and more.
The passing of customs and beliefs from generation to generation.
Activities that are done for fun and enjoyment.
Bhangra is a traditional folk dance from India. It is performed during the harvesting season.
Let’s get started!
What are some reasons someone might dance in their community?
Explore the following images:
Brainstorm
What do you think?
After exploring the images, brainstorm a few roles that dance can play within communities.
Complete the Mind Map Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts. Consider adding your work to your dance portfolio.
Action
Get ready, get set…
Notice some of the roles that dance can play in the following mind map. Compare these ideas with the ones you came up with from the Minds On section.
Roles of dance in communities
The brainstorm mind map is about different roles of dance in communities. A few possible reasons for dance in communities are entertainment, celebrations, socializing, cultural traditions, and recreation.
As you noticed in the mind map, dance plays many roles.
- As entertainment, many experience a live dance performance at a theatre.
- Many use dance as a way to celebrate and socialize with family and friends, by dancing at parties, weddings, festivals, etc.
- Dance is also a way to pass on the stories and traditions from ancestors and elders in several cultures. For example, dancing at a First Nations Powwow passes on the dance traditions that have been part of the culture for many years.
- As recreation, we can take dance lessons to learn a new art form.
Now, let’s explore a dance and the role it plays within its community.
Prairie Chicken dance
Ansen is a boy from the Tsuut'ina Nation just outside of Calgary, Alberta. Check out this video entitled "Ansen" to learn more about the Prairie Chicken dance.
Reflect on what we have learnt about the Prairie Chicken dance.
Select the correct answer, then press 'Check Answer' to see how you did.
Go!
Let’s focus on another dance and the role it plays within a community.
Bhangra
Bhangra is a style of dance that is from the Punjab area of India and Pakistan. It began with the farmers in the area who would dance as they worked. They turned their everyday work movements into dance movements in order to make the work more fun!
The people of the communities would also dance to celebrate a good harvest.
Today, Bhangra is danced at many different celebrations, like weddings, birthdays, the birth of a new baby, and many more!
Press the following tabs to explore Bhangra.
Access this video entitled "Lohri" to learn more about Bhangra.
In this first video, we will meet Baltek and Jasmine, who are learning how to do Bhangra.
Now, let’s check out Baltek’s and Jasmine’s Bhangra moves at the Lohri party to celebrate the birth of a baby in Baltek’s community.
Explore this video entitled "Lohri" to learn more about Bhangra.
After checking out how to perform Bhangra, let’s reflect on what we have learnt.
Select the correct answer, then press 'Check Answer' to see how you did.
Consolidation
Making connections
In this learning activity, we learned about the roles of dance in two different communities:
- Prairie Chicken dance from Ansen’s community
- Bhangra dance from Baltek’s community
Portfolio
Different dances
1. Choose one of the following dances from different communities to explore:
- Chinese Lion dance
- First Nations traditional dance
2. Next, check out the video clip for each of the dances.
3. Then, respond to questions about your chosen dance.
Consider adding your work to your dance portfolio.
Press the following tabs to access each dance clip.
Access this video entitled “Chinese New Year” to learn more about the Chinese Lion dance.
Check out this video entitled "Malakai" to learn more about traditional dancing.
After exploring the video clips, of your chosen dance, let’s reflect on the dance we learnt about with the Chinese Lion Dance Activity or the First Nations Traditional Dance Activity.
Complete the Chinese Lion Dance Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts. Consider adding your work to your dance portfolio.
Press the Activity button to access the Chinese Lion Dance Activity.
Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)Complete the First Nations Traditional Dance Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts. Consider adding your work to your dance portfolio.
Press the Activity button to access the First Nations Traditional Dance Activity.
Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)Consider adding the Chinese Lion Dance Activity or the First Nations Traditional Dance Activity to your portfolio.
Portfolio
Review your learning
Recall the Mind Map Activity from the Minds On section.
Add any new ideas or thoughts to your mind map about why people dance in their communities.
Consider adding your work to your dance portfolio.
If possible, share your ideas with a partner.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
Press 'Discover More' to extend your skills.
Discover More
Let’s respond to the following questions:
- What are some reasons you might dance in your community?
- How might dance bring a community together?
- Why might dance be important to you and your community?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.