Alvin Ailey Modern Dance Class Activities - Grade 6 (Kristy Faucett) by Kristy Faucett

Revelations Analysis Project

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Working in small groups, students will watch segments of Ailey's masterpiece 'Revelations' online. Each group focuses on a different section, analyzing the movements, music, and cultural significance. They will create a digital presentation sharing their findings with the class.

Modern Dance Vocabulary Web

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students create a digital mind map connecting Alvin Ailey's dance style to broader modern dance concepts. Include terms like contraction, release, fall and recovery, and parallel position. Students should add definitions, examples, and connections between terms.

Virtual Dance Company Research

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students investigate the current Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company through their official website. They will create short profiles of current dancers and compare contemporary works to historical pieces, examining how the company maintains Ailey's legacy while moving forward.

Digital Biography Timeline

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students will create an interactive digital timeline of Alvin Ailey's life using tools like TimelineJS. They should include key moments in his dance career, the founding of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and his major works. Students can incorporate images, video clips, and text to make their timelines engaging.

Dance Review Blog

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students write blog-style reviews of an Ailey performance they watch online. They should incorporate proper dance terminology, descriptive language, and their personal interpretations of the work's meaning.

Historical Interview Script

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students write and perform a fictional interview with Alvin Ailey, based on historical research. Questions should cover his artistic vision, challenges he faced, and impact on modern dance. Students can record these as podcasts or videos.

Modern Dance Evolution Timeline

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Create a collaborative digital timeline showing how modern dance evolved, placing Ailey's contributions in context with other pioneers like Martha Graham, Katherine Dunham, and Pearl Primus. Include how each choreographer influenced the development of the art form.

Cultural Context Digital Collage

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Using digital design tools, students create a collage representing the cultural and historical context of Ailey's work. Include images and information about the Civil Rights Movement, African American spirituals, and other influences on his choreography.

Virtual Dance Education Archive

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students contribute to a class-wide digital archive about dance education, focusing on Ailey's belief in making dance accessible to all. Research the Ailey School, their outreach programs, and how they continue to educate new generations of dancers.

Multimedia Dance Comparison

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

Students create a multimedia presentation comparing Ailey's choreographic style with another modern dance pioneer. They should analyze specific works, movement qualities, and artistic philosophies using side-by-side video examples and written analysis.

Dance Standard

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

MSD.CN.1 Understand and demonstrate dance throughout history and in various cultures.

kellyreed8 — 2025-04-24 00:24:13 UTC

At the bottom of this website, choose a clip to watch. Keep a digital journal documenting the emotions, stories and themes they observe.