Dance and Music

Levels 3-4

Show these photos and video clips of the dragon dance.

Think, pair and share:

• Why use a dragon as the creature of the dance?
• What special qualities might the dancing dragon bring?
• Why do you think the Chinese emperors from ancient times told their people they were incarnations of real dragons?
• What do you need to make a dancing dragon?
• Several features of other animals are combined in a dragon. What other creatures might be part of the dragon?
• What times of the year might you see the dragon dance?
  

See the evidence

Look for evidence in the dragon photos, for these characteristics of the dragon dance.

Dragon teams

• The size and length of a dragon depends on the human power available as well as the skill and space available for the dance.
• Its length ranges from 7 sections to 13 sections long but some dragons are as long as 46 sections.
• The normal length and size of the body is 34 metres and it is divided into 9 sections.

Split your class into dragon teams. Begin with very small dragons and get them to work out a sequence of six moves involving steps and leaps that can be forward backwards or sideways. Explain they must co-ordinate their movements. It may be best if each team has a choreographer!

Give time for rehearsals and then beat the drum. Start with six, slow even beats and then try a sequence at different speeds.

Get each group to add another four movements to their dance and then once again add the beats.

Now get each group to work on a final movement -a grand step that will bring their dance to a close. Give one or more dancers (or the choreographer) a drum to keep their own beat. Each team can rehearse their dance sequence and then perform it to the class.

Pick one of the dances for a whole class dragon dance. Decide on a choreographer and drummers and give it a go!