Folk Dancing!

There is a lot of folk dancing going on during these cold winter months here at Peck Place School! Students in second grade have been working on the "Virginia Reel", a dance that is performed in an "alley" formation. Click HERE to view a performance of the dance by Mrs. Haskos' class. This dance features a step called "cast off" in which partners turn away from each other and walk down the outside of the set, or formation.

Students in fourth grade have been building upon their knowledge of folk dance steps from previous grade levels through square dancing. Square dancing is performed in a "square" formation and requires a much quicker transition between steps, which are given by a "caller". Click HERE to view a performance of "Simple Square" by Mrs. Tickell's class.

Dance and movement are important parts of the general music curriculum. Dance traditions are passed down through generations to celebrate important occasions from diverse cultures. Folk dancing requires rhythmic competence, challenges students to be aware of their bodies physically, and requires them to use their brainpower to keep complicated sequences of movements in their memories.