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Dance Forms

Eighth graders learn the forms that give a dance its structure — AB, ABA, theme and variation, call and response, and canon — the blueprints choreographers use to organize movement into a satisfying whole.

Grade 8Choreography45 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name dance forms.
  • ✓Explain AB & ABA.
  • ✓Explain canon & response.
  • ✓Use form in a dance.
Essential Question

A dance isn’t just a string of moves — it has a structure, like a song. What are the forms choreographers use to shape a dance?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Dance Form

Project this and match each dance form to its meaning — tap a form, then tap what it means.

💃 Match each dance form to its meaningTry it
Form
What It Means
Now tap its meaning!
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Warm-Up · Explore · Create · Perform · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Structure, Like a Song

5 min

A dance has structure, like a song — what forms shape it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a structured dance.
  • Ask how it’s organized.
  • Warm up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Analyze.
  • Warm up.
2

Explore — Explore Forms

11 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Dance Form.
  • Note each form.
  • Find them in dances.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Note them.
  • Find them.
3

Create — Create

14 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Choreograph in ABA form.
  • Add a canon.
  • Structure the dance.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Make ABA.
  • Add canon.
  • Structure it.
4

Perform — Perform

10 min

Students perform.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Perform their form.
  • Name the structure.
  • Give critique.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Perform it.
  • Name it.
  • Critique.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a form.
  • Explain ABA.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Dance).

NCAS
DA:Cr2.1.8

Structure a dance using forms.

NCAS
DA:Re7.2.8

Analyze how form shapes a dance.

NCAS
DA:Cr1.1.8

Generate movement for a form.

NCAS
DA:Pr4.1.8

Perform choreographed structure.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Form + meaning cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ form is ___.”
  • Use dance clips.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with AB and ABA.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Use clips.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Choreograph theme & variation.
  • Combine forms.
  • Analyze a dance’s form.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 💃Dance clips
  • 💻Match the Dance Form
  • 👟Open space
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

formthe structure of a danceAB formtwo sections, A then BABA formA, contrasting B, then Athemea main movement ideavariationa changed versioncall & responsea lead-and-answer patterncanonthe same move started in turnstructurehow a dance is organized
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is ABA form?
A section, a contrasting B section, then a return to A.
QUESTION 2
What is a canon (round) in dance?
Dancers do the same movement, starting one after another.
QUESTION 3
Why do choreographers use forms?
To give a dance a clear, satisfying structure.

Reflect: shape a dance.

Have students plan a short dance using ABA form and describe each section. A printable dance-forms sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Dance FormsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Dance FormsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Dance FormsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: AB form, ABA form, call & response, canon, form, structure, theme, variation
  1. two sections, A then B
  2. the same move started in turn
  3. a changed version
  4. a main movement idea
  5. the structure of a dance
  6. A, contrasting B, then A
  7. how a dance is organized
  8. a lead-and-answer pattern

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is ABA form?
  2. What is a canon (round) in dance?
  3. Why do choreographers use forms?
Answer key — Part A: 1) AB form · 2) canon · 3) variation · 4) theme · 5) form · 6) ABA form · 7) structure · 8) call & response
Part B: 1) A section, a contrasting B section, then a return to A. 2) Dancers do the same movement, starting one after another. 3) To give a dance a clear, satisfying structure.