Taking the Scaries out of Dance Integration

“I’m not a dancer!”
If that thought has ever crossed your mind when considering dance integration, don’t worry! Dance integration isn’t about perfect pirouettes or flashy jazz hands—it’s about using movement creatively to make learning more engaging and memorable. Let’s swap fear for curiosity and explore simple ways to bring dance into your classroom.

Dance isn’t just for the studio or the stage; it’s a powerful tool for learning. When students move
their bodies, they engage multiple senses, reinforce concepts, and build connections. Wherever
you are on your dance integration journey, here are a few tips to make it feel less scary and
more approachable:

Start Small
You don’t have to jump into a 45-minute dance integration lesson immediately. Instead, ease
into it with small, manageable steps. Start by incorporating simple movement strategies,
perhaps ones you picked up at PSAE’s Arts Integration Conference, as an activator or check for
understanding.

For example, try the Move It! Shape It! strategy:

● Give students a vocabulary word or concept to express in movement.
● Play music and students move to express vocabulary or a concept through movement.
● When the music stops, students freeze in a body shape.
● Repeat with different terms.

Even a few minutes of dance can enhance engagement and learning.

Utilize Resources
There are plenty of resources to support you on your dance integration journey. Reach out to a
dance specialist, integration coach, professional learning community, or a colleague as thought
partners. Collaborating on curriculum connections, discussing dance strategies, and
implementation will help refine your ideas and strengthen your plan. The ArtsNOW website also
offers a wealth of tools for dynamic arts-integrated learning, including unit guides, single lesson
plans, and video modules. With these resources and a supportive network, your dance
integration journey will feel more manageable and rewarding.

No Dance Skills Required.
Successfully facilitating a dance integration activity or lesson doesn’t require special dance
skills. What’s important is knowing the learning target, standard, core content vocabulary, and a
few key dance terms. These key terms fall under the elements of dance: Body, Space, Time,
and Energy. Key terms for each element include:
● Body: Body Shapes, Movement, Locomotor and Non-locomotor
● Space: levels, size, pathways
● Time: tempo, beat
● Energy: qualities of movement, force

As the facilitator, your role is to guide the process of creating, performing, responding to, and
connecting dance with other content areas. Here are some content ideas with key vocabulary:

● Students create symmetrical and asymmetrical body shapes at high, middle, and low
levels.
● Students create a 3 movement sequence that retells events from the beginning, middle,
and end of a story using locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
● Students explore movements for different types of weather focusing on movement
qualities (vibratory, heavy, sudden, smooth)
● Students create movements that depict key events during westward expansion utilizing
changes in tempo, at least two movement qualities, and pathways.

With a thoughtfully designed integration activity and a solid understanding of essential dance
terminology, you'll be leading learning through dance — no fancy footwork necessary.
​
You don’t need a dance studio or fancy costumes to integrate dance. Remember to begin with
small steps, utilize available resources, and deepen your understanding of essential dance
terminology. As you embark on your integration journey, let curiosity and courage take the
place of fear. Dance integration isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about fostering expression,
engagement, and creating meaningful learning experiences for your students.

Author

Christopher Crabb is a Project Manager with ArtsNOW and serves on the board for PSAE (Palmetto State Arts Education). Over his 20-year career in public education, Chris has served as a dance educator, arts-integration instructional coach, arts grant manager, and district coordinator of performing and fine arts. He was the 2022 Arts Administrator of the Year (SC Art Education Association) and a Top 5 Finalist for Beaufort County District Teacher of the Year. ​