About The Unit : This unit of dance is intended to last for 5 weeks. This unit is based on the ideas taken from being a soldier in the Roman army. The dance reflects the different elements of being a soldier and also the feelings involved in battle. Children will be encouraged to work creatively and imaginatively to portray the different aspects involved. Emphasis will be on strength and quality of movement.
Objectives:
 create and perform expressive body movements at different levels, speeds and directions
 explore different ways of linking shapes thought travelling
 observe, mirror, cannon and follow actions that others have created
 Respond to a range of different music and stimuli
 Create movement to portray feelings and moods
 To learn, rehearse and perform sequences of movement
At The End of the Unit :
All children will be able to: Perform simple movements to portray the life of a roman soldier.
Most children will be able to : Perform several sequences of creative and expressive movements communication feelings and moods.
Some children will be able to : Perform and create highly expressive movements that clearly demonstrate an awareness of using dance to communicate ideas.

Week 1
 Warm up with all the children standing in a space they walk round in their own pathway while the music is on and then when it stops they have to make a strong pose to hold – give points each time to the strongest positions.
 Teach the children a short phrase using powerful movements – children encouraged to use lots of energy – music from the Matrix
Soundtrack
 Children to practise their sequence in small groups so that it is solid in their minds.
Week 2
 Warm up – sequence from last week as a whole class
 Working as a whole class children have a leader and they have to move as a pack, only moving when they move and changing direction when necessary. Try to split the class in half – they move as a pack and then when the hooter sounds they have to perform the powerful sequence.
 Put class into two straight lines facing each other. They march around in two separate circles to then face each other again and perform powerful sequence. Put together as a whole piece.
Week 3
 Warm up with work from last week as a recap
 Discuss Roman Army formations, e.g. the tortoise – try this out with a small group then allow the children to experiment in small groups of their own.
 Introduce the idea of adding more movement to the formations and adding cannon – demonstrate using a single turn in canon spreading through the formation. Children choose a simple movement in their own small group and perfect to show to the whole class.
 Put together last weeks sequences with the formations from today.
Week 4
 Warm up by recapping piece so far
 Teach children a new sequence that they perform with a partner showing power over an opponent.
 Children now have time to add their own ending being careful to stick to the same movement style and then show to the class.

 This can then be added to the end of the piece so far
Week 5
 Warm up by practising battle partner scene from last week
 Add final part of the dance the armies getting back together – children to create their own powerful greetings. The armies then march around each other and each one has to come up with a finishing position to the whole piece
 Children have the rest of the session to rehearse the final piece.