Musical-Inspired Dances in the Physical Education Curriculum
Musicals are a popular form of entertainment. Many schools stage a musical, especially at the secondary level. Because musicals include popular songs and feature interesting characters, dances, settings and time periods, they have a huge appeal that can engage students. Beyond entertainment, musicals invite educational lessons that can impact the curriculum. This article’s title derives from the song “Gotta Dance” from the MGM film musical Singin’ in the Rain.
Author Keith Mason in a publicity photo for Hello, Dolly!
Because of actors’ movement in scenes and dances, musicals can inspire movement activities in physical education curricula providing a rationale for using musical-inspired dances in class. Students can learn dance integration through stage and film musicals while also getting physical exercise. Dance is an integral part of the storytelling process. Many showstopper songs and dances in musicals have become indelible parts of popular culture. Such songs and dances can inspire movement activities in physical education class by engaging students, motivating them and exposing them to musicals’ content and premises. Dance is an important movement activity that differs from the usual sports activities implemented in physical education.
In secondary school, this author enjoyed three marking periods of dance to fulfil a physical education requirement. The course taught a number of world dances including the waltz, the polka, ballroom dancing and salsa. These were some of this author’s most memorable courses because they promoted physical exercise, learning world dances and being energised simultaneously.
Various dance moves in musicals are known internationally. In The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews walks across an Alpine meadow that ends in a twirl right before singing, “The Sound of Music.” In The King and I, Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr dance to, “Shall We Dance,” while the orchestra swells and they dance a world famous polka. Gene Kelly’s dance routine during the song, “Singin’ in the Rain,” is renowned. Students can benefit from famous stage and film choreographers such as George Ballanchine, Gene Kelly, Agnes DeMille, Bob Fosse, Michael Kidd and Michael Bennett.
Physical education teachers can overcome barriers to teaching dance. Aside from teachers possibly not having experience teaching dance, boys may consider dance a feminine activity. If this happens, teachers can show examples of male dancers in musicals to dispel this myth. This could include Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor in Singin’ in the Rain or Michael Crawford and Danny Lockin in Hello, Dolly!
Learning Scenarios
Activities incorporated in physical education class, as inspired by musicals, can be used as enrichment activities, implemented into already existing lessons or serve as creative outlets for students. These scenarios focus on dance, choreography, reading, research and creative expression. Curricular frameworks that can help define activities include differentiation, habits of mind, Multiple Intelligences, learning styles, interdisciplinary learning and thematic learning.
Mural for school production of Carousel featuring dancers
Teachers not trained in dance can watch online videos and DVDs to learn basic dance steps. Teachers can utilise dances by using musical film clips, educational dance videos, written materials and best practices in physical education. If feasible, a dance instructor or choreographer can come into class as a guest instructor. Most importantly, utilise students with a knowledge of dance. Besides performing dance, students can learn the history of various dances and their development and can be assessed by teaching dances, performing dances or describing dances in speaking or writing.
Explore the following scenarios within your physical education classes:
Alpine Mountain Twirl: As the camera approaches a meadow, we see Julie Andrews in the film The Sound of Music. Right before a close-up, she twirls before singing, “The Sound of Music.” Students can replicate the twirl individually or together with the soundtrack music. They could also create their own dance instead of the twirl and do a sing-a-long with the song.
Shall We Dance?: In The King and I film, we see Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr dance the polka for the showstopper, “Shall We Dance?” Students can learn the polka after watching this famous dance scene.
Silhouettes for school production of The Boy Friend
Choreography Activity: Students choose one show tune and develop an original dance routine. They perform it for the class or can record it for a visual record, critique and grading.
Showstoppers: Students learn one dance number considered a showstopper in a musical. Examples include, “Hello, Dolly,” from Hello, Dolly!, “Seventy-Six Trombones,” in The Music Man and “Do- Re-Mi,” in The Sound of Music.
The Laendler: In The Sound of Music, students view Maria and the Captain dancing the Laendler. They then learn the authentic dance as celebrated in Austria and perform it with a partner.
A Chorus Line: While the main premise of A Chorus Line is dance, students can focus on the song “One,” and learn how to dance in a chorus line fashion like the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Shipoopi: Students view the scene “Shipoopi,” in the film The Music Man and then learn key dance moves. They can also innovate by creating an original dance set to the song.
Overture Routines: Students choose an overture from a musical and create a dance routine to accompany the music.
Song and Dance: Students research musicals to identify songs that are accompanied by distinctive dances.
International Dance: Students learn foreign dances as inspired by settings in musicals. Suggestions include the can-can from Can- Can, the waltz, the polka or Latin dance in Get On Your Feet: The Emilio and Gloria Estefan Story.
Ballets and Interpretive Dance: Ballets developed by Agnes DeMille are featured in Oklahoma! (“Laurey Makes Up Her Mind,” at the End of Act I) and Carousel (“Louise’s Ballet,” in Act II). Other ballets are found in Flower Drum Song (“Sunday”), The King and I (“The Small House of Uncle Thomas”) and more musicals. Students can learn one part of these sequences or different groups can do a portion that can be collectively performed by the class.
Waltz: Students learn how to waltz inspired by musical scenes such as, “The Grand Waltz,” in The Sound of Music party scene, “The Embassy Waltz,” in My Fair Lady or “Waltz for a Ball,” in Cinderella.
Read All About It: Students read about famous choreographers of musicals and dances that they designed. Reading sources can include the Internet, books and magazine articles.
Scene Blocking: Students read a scene from a musical libretto or script and determine how actors should move as indicated by directions and dialogue.
Dress Up Role Play: Students each dress up as a character from a musical learning to move and dance like the character.
Summary
Dances and showtunes are ideal ways to promote movement in physical education curricula. Consider trying the learning scenarios here with students to help them fulfil their physical and kinaesthetic expression. Gotta dance!
