Customer Reviews

Creative Dance for All Ages: A Conceptual Approach

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This is an excellent book for anyone interested in teaching creative dance, whether you have dance experience yourself or not. The book provides a thorough overview of what creative dance is and how to teach it. There are hundreds of dance exercises included, as well as sample lesson plans and useful suggestions for how to structure your classes. As a dance teacher, I have found this book to be the most helpful I've encountered -- I use it constantly!

This book is the most practical one for teachers of creative dance in the classroom, although it is much more than a classroom tool. "Creative Dance for All Ages" is easy to read, simple to grasp and the lessons almost teach themselves. Gilbert starts you from the basics of movement using vocabulary and concepts simplified from Rudolph von Laban's work in movement analysis. Her methods are generous and joyful, reflecting her passion for giving children (and adults) the experience of dance without fear or feeling threatened. Each chapter focuses on one of the elements of dance (and movement) providing multiple choices for activities in each of her lesson plan components. Her basic lesson plan is sound and safe, divided into 5 main components and progressing from (1) Introduction and warm-up using the dance element, (2) exploring the element, (3) developing dance skills, (4) creating with the element explored and (5) cooling down.
If you are a teacher of dance or a teacher in the school system, you will find this book invaluable! Many lesson plans are already laid out for you. Most may be adapted to expand student learning in the academic curriculum. This book is also great for dancers looking to expand their compositional approach. Every teacher will want a copy ready at their teaching fingertips.

UPDATE - September 29, 2011:
My first copy of this book was purchased around 1997. I used it in the University courses I teach at the University of Alberta and for creative inspiration for choreography. The pages started falling out so I bought a 2nd copy in 2003 and had the 1st copy taped together for home reference. Now my 2nd copy is worn out! I continue to use it in various University courses and as reference material whenever and wherever I teach. Great resource for dancers and dance teachers of every kind.

I have been teaching ballet for many years and have never come across a curriculum like this for an introduction to dance. The book is well written providing you with a clear outline of concepts that are introduced and layered upon through out the year according to what age group you are teaching. It provides examples of class planning, music and props. It is very clear on body alignment, strength and capabilities of the developing child as to not cause harm to their young bodies. [[ASIN:0883145324 Creative Dance for All Ages: A Conceptual Approach] is a must for any school of dance and anyone who teaches young children. The children love the class and the time flies leaving them with wanting more!

I recommend this book to all ballet and dance teacher. Great, great, great book. very simple to follow and very well done. Thanks Anne Green Gilbert for sharing all your knowledge and experience with so much generosity. Your work is a great inspiration and help in understanding better creative dance and the way to teach it.
Luciano Aimar