This resource is slated for revision in 2025, budget permitting. Please share any suggestions, recommendations, or ways that you have adapted this resource with us using the Feedback button for consideration in the updated version.
Potential Appropriation Issues
The use of some of the lessons in this resource is not recommended for teachers without the cultural background of these dance disciplines. Always invite cultural knowledge keepers to support cultural learning. Africa is a continent with many countries, each with distinctive dance forms. Teachers are encouraged to invite artists who can share their culture as well as their dance with the students. CODE has a Members-Only Artist Roster with some suggested practitioners.
For guidance about teaching dance forms, consider the recommendations in the Members-Only resource Teaching Forms and Cultural Contexts.
Also consider the recommendations in Appendix 2.
Unit Guiding Questions
- How are African and Hip Hop dance the same? How are they different?
- In what ways might African dance have influenced Hip Hop?
- How can we use the movement vocabularies from these two styles of dance to create our own compositions?
Assessment and Evaluation: How will students demonstrate their learning?
Assessment for Learning
Checkpoint/Lesson #1
Teacher observation
Side coaching
Reflection
Checkpoint/Lesson #2
Teacher observation
Side coaching
Checkpoint/Lesson #3
Teacher observation
Side coaching
Self-assessment
Checkpoint/Lesson #4
Teacher observation
Side coaching
Peer feedback
Assessment of Learning
Culminating Performance Task
Students will create a group choreography, using rondo form, that uses the movement vocabulary from both African and Hip Hop dance. This will be evaluated using a rubric.
Unit Lessons: How will assessment and instruction be organized for learning?
Lesson 1
Exploring African
In this lesson, students will analyze videos of African dance and use this as a stimulus to create their own movement phrases.
1 class (~60 minutes)
Lesson 2
Exploring Hip Hop
In this lesson, students will analyze photos of Hip Hop dancers and use this as the stimulus to create their own movement phrases.
1 class
Lesson 3
Choreography
Students will work in small groups to create a dance that uses the movement vocabularies from both African and Hip Hop dance. They will each be responsible for creating a segment of the choreography. Students will use rondo form to help them organize their choreography.
1.5 classes
Lesson 4
Sharing Works in Progress
In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to share their works in progress and receive peer feedback. They will be responsible for planning how to use this feedback to revise their dance pieces.
1 class
Lesson 5
Final Performance
Students will use the peer feedback given to them in lesson 4 to revise and refine their dance pieces and then present them for evaluation.
1-2 classes
