Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
DISCO
THIS RESOURCE CONTAINS:
 Details of music used for this dance
 Questions to reflect on learning during Footsteps session
 Complete plan for classroom workshop based on Disco routine
 ‘Cultural Changes Across The Decades’ worksheet
 Outline of an extended learning project
Suggested Songs:
 Stayin‟ Alive (The Bee Gees)
 Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry)
 Funky Town (Lipps, Inc.)
 Can You Feel It (The Jacksons)
 Born To Be Alive (Patrick Hernandez)
These songs might be useful to:
 Revise or perform the Disco routine
 Create an atmosphere or mood and inspire students working on disco related tasks
 Measure time allowances for various tasks and activities
Review Questions From Session:
 What was the Disco era? What decade was Disco really popular?
 Describe disco-era clothing/fashion
Disco Workshop – Cultural Changes Across The Decades:
Working in teams, students discuss and compare the evolution of youth culture over the
last sixty years, and reflect on how the world has changed in that time, as well as what
remains the same.
Materials Required
 „Dance Styles‟ sorting cards – 1 per student, 5 of each type
 „Cultural Changes Across The Decades‟ worksheet – 1 per student
 Pens – 1 per student
 Large, butchers-style paper – 2 or 3 sheets per team
 Textas or markers – approx 1 per student
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Sorting Activity
Participants find others with the same dance style to form teams.
If this sorting activity is regularly used, add an additional challenge by timing whole group
and aiming for personal best, or make it a race between teams.
Looking Back and Comparing
How has the world changed in the last 60 years? What‟s different? What‟s the same?
As a whole group, discuss:
 World issues
 Fashion
 Music
 Technology
As they were in the 1950‟s, 1970‟s and 1990‟s (This may require significant input and
facilitation by teacher)
In teams, brainstorm the above points as they are today, as you know them.
As a whole group, share findings. What is generally agreed upon? Are there any points
where there is disagreement in the group?
Getting Creative: Everything Old Is New Again
In teams, create a short (15-30 second) television or radio advert.
Select an item (clothing, technology, new craze) relevant to the 1970‟s.
Come up with an advertisement for this item that would be relevant in the 1970‟s.
All teams share their work.
Summary and Reflection
What task today was the most difficult?
What task was the easiest?
Did your group have any challenges?
Did you group have any important successes?
Extended Learning Project:
Research the 1970‟s:
 Fashion
 Music
 Movies
 Politics
Choose an important event from the 1970‟s to research in detail.
Suggested presentation formats:
 Speech, perhaps with a PowerPoint presentation as a visual aide
 Poster
 Travel brochure
 Video, documentary style
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Cultural Changes Across The Decades
1950’s
World
issues
Fashion
Music
Technology
1970’s
1990’s
End of WW2
Beginning of space
race
Vietnam War
Empowerment of
women
Environment
Poverty and famine
No longer dress like
parents
Women:
 Long, full skirts
 Pearls and gloves
 Hair short and
curled
Men:
 Suits, pants short
enough to show
socks
 Leather jackets
„Hippie‟ craze:
 Bell bottomed
pants
 Flower prints
 Platform shoes
 Beards (men)
“Anti-fashion,
anything goes”
 Snap pants
(tracksuit pants)
 Stirrup pants
 Baggy pants,
baggy shirts
 High-waisted
jeans
 Grunge
 Perm (women)
 Long hair (men)
Rock „n‟ Roll
 Elvis Presley
 Chuck Berry
 Buddy Holly
Doo Wop
Disco
The Jackson 5
Elton John
ABBA
„Boy band‟
 Backstreet Boys
Brit-pop / Euro-pop
 Spice Girls
Grunge
First ball point pen
Polio vaccine
First plastic Coke
bottle
Walkman invented
Microwave ovens and
VCR‟s commercially
available
Internet
CD‟s
Computers become
popular
Disco style:
 „Afro‟ hairstyles
 Three piece suits
(men)
Today
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Tango Tango
Tango Tango
Tango Tango
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Jive Jive
Jive Jive
Jive Jive
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Waltz Waltz
Waltz Waltz
Waltz Waltz
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Cha Cha
Cha Cha
Cha Cha
Cha Cha
Cha Cha
Cha Cha
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Foxtrot Foxtrot
Foxtrot Foxtrot
Foxtrot Foxtrot
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Paso
Doble
Paso
Doble
Paso
Doble
Paso
Doble
Paso
Doble
Paso
Doble
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Hip
Hop
Hip
Hop
Hip
Hop
Hip
Hop
Hip
Hop
Hip
Hop
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Salsa Salsa
Salsa Salsa
Salsa Salsa
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Mambo Mambo
Mambo Mambo
Mambo Mambo
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Jazz Jazz
Jazz Jazz
Jazz Jazz
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Ballet Ballet
Ballet Ballet
Ballet Ballet
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Footsteps Dance Company – Teacher Resources
Rock ‘n’ Rock ‘n’
Roll
Roll
Rock ‘n’ Rock ‘n’
Roll
Roll
Rock ‘n’ Rock ‘n’
Roll
Roll
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