DANCE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY (UNIT)
ORIGINAL FOLKDANCE PREPARATION
Folkdance: Questions of Culture and Identity
Students will:
1) Take a few minutes on their own to make an “identity map” cataloging the groups of
which they are a part: age-group, gender, family, ethnic background, organizations,
activity groups, and any other groupings they identify with.
2) Bringing attention to dance as a cultural trait, make note of any of the groupings in which
dance (of any kind) plays a part.
3) With a partner or in a small group find where personal cultural strands intersect with those
of others. What “cultures” do they have in common?
4) A larger identity map could be made for the entire class to show intersections of groupings.
A discussion of culture, identity and dance could be facilitated at this point. You might include
questions such as:
 What is your personal relationship with dance? Where did it appear on your identity map?
What types of dance experiences have you had or do you have? Where do you dance?
When? With Whom? Why and how?
 If you were to interview a member of a group that shared dance knowledge, what questions
would you ask to explore cultural knowledge of the group. What would be your first
question? (Vissicaro)
 Is dance an integral part of your life? Why or Why not? Was dance a central part of your
parents’ life? Your grandparents’? Why or why not? (Vissicaro).
SHOW VIDEO CLIPS here of dances from two or three different cultures.
Ask if anyone knows any background (context) for these dances i.e. who does them and for what
occasion. Using the Original Folkdance worksheet write down your observations about roles of
dancers, use of the body and body shapes, kinds of actions, where they go in space, rhythm and
music, how dancers interact, who is dancing, what they are wearing, how the dance begins and
ends, etc.
The above activities are a way to prepare for the students to create their own original folkdances
(see lesson plan).
References:
Vissicaro,Pegge. (2004). Studying Dance Cultures Around the World, An Introduction to
Multicultural Dance Education. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.
Mirus,Judith, White,Elena, Bucek,Loren, Paulson,Pamela.(1996). Dance Education Initiative
Curriculum Guide: Minnesota Perpich Center for Arts Education.
© 2005 Perpich Center for Arts Education & Judith Howard
3