Dance standards in WA

Dance in Washington state can incorporate contemporary, creative movement, world dance, ballet, jazz, tap, modern, break dance, hip-hop, ballroom, choreography, dance notation, dance history, musical theatre, improvisation, folk, ethnic, step, historical, and square dance. For these standards, I focused on the first grad standards. The first section focuses on the understanding of space, time, technique, and styles of dance. GLE 2 and 3 focus on the creative process of dance, performance and expression of feelings, communication, vocabulary, concepts and cultural aspects of dancing. 

I knew that knowledge of dance vocabulary as well as the historical and cultural aspects. However, I was surprised that the emotional expression of performance is assessed. To me, this is a good thing because if they are going to require students to dance, they should get into the performance, making it more fun to watch and carry out. Another thing I was surprised that is a standard is, GLE: 3.2.1, uses dance to communicate for a specific purpose. This is unexpected to me because usually schools focus on communication through writing, not dance. 

Standard 4.2.1 remembers skills, concepts, and vocabulary that dance has in common with other content areas can be incorporated into social studies. If students are performing a cultural dance, they can use what they studied to make outfits, and background more authentic. Standard 4.4.1 can also be used in that example, remembers specific attributes of a dance that reflect its cultural and historical context.

Some standards that would have to stand by themselves are 3.1.1 Remembers and understands that dance expresses feelings and presents ideas and 1.2.1 recognizes, understands, and applies the technique and skills of dance.

When I teach about Native American studies, I can teach about the natural elements: water, fire, wind, and earth. Students can use their bodies to demonstrate each element. Then, after they have done each element, they can use these to make a story about what is happening in the nature. I watched a video on the Teaching Channel for idea. 

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/integrating-dance-into-lessons.
http://www.k12.wa.us/Arts/Standards/pubdocs/DanceStandards.pdf