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Ballet in action! Our third graders are doing a great job practicing their Ballet skills! Check out our releves above! 
Learning Ballet Vocabulary
One of the challenges of learning Ballet is that so much of the vocabulary is in French because Ballet was created in France. In third grade, we are working on increasing our knowledge of the French Ballet Vocabulary and recognition of the dance skills through use of flash cards. We had a great time working in partners this week to learn the words that we will put into motion next week!

Modern Dance Assessments Coming Up!

Fourth and Fifth graders reviewed their Modern dance vocabulary this past week and will take the performance and written assessments during their next dance class. Please remind your student to check their Google Classrooms for the study guides, history slides, and videos for their grade's content. 

The Alphabet Book by Pilobolus Dance Company and Decatur First Graders!

Decatur's First Graders are learning how to use our communication tool for dance class: our bodies! Our first assignment was to create the alphabet with partners. Take a look at our video for a quick look at our group work assignment!

Second Grade Jazz Class

Our second graders are learning the basic Jazz vocabulary skills in dance class. We have had a great time building onto the skills we already know from Ballet class and learning new skills like jazz drag, pirouettes, and grande jetes!
Sixth graders have been working on a school-wide "Positivity Project" to help spread gratitude and good vibes throughout the building. This week, students took the time to thank staff members for their kindness at Decatur. 
Fifth grade is working on a Horton Modern unit! We learned about Lester Horton, a pioneer of Modern dance and are now learning his technique. Today we discussed side laterals and students learned how important it is to support the spine during the Horton technique. 
6th graders were hard at work kicking off mindfulness around Decatur by making recommendations of mindfulness cards that they believe teachers could find useful around our school. 
Fifth graders from 110 chose to round out our year with yoga. We decided on our goals and outcomes we wanted from the unit as a class. Here are just a couple from our list: 
  • Help improve flexibility 
  • Improve the classroom community through teambuilding 
  • Make me feel calm 
  • Improve sleep 
  • Find a way to cool down when I feel anger
The photo above was after our yoga poses and breathing for the day when we played "Rock, Paper, Scissors," yoga pose style.  
Our third graders are working on the last unit of the year, "Jazz Beginnings: Bob Fosse!" We are learning two of his most famous works: "Sing Sing Sing" (105) and "Steam Heat" (102). The students are having a blast learning to use his favorite prop, a hat! 
Each day when second graders walk into dance we take a "Mindful Moment." Sometimes, its a quick focus game we play while tuning into our sense and other times our lovely second graders help us focus on the present moment by playing some mindful instruments. Here are our Mindful Moment leaders this week on the chime, two types of rain-sticks, and a shell shaker. 
The Chicago Children's Theatre worked with our third grade students for two days for a residency program that culminated in a parade for our community! Amazing work, third graders, on your song, parade chant, and visual art puppets!
Great job to our performers in 102, dance ensemble, and choir on their performance at the Chicago Children's Museum!
Costume team hard at work cutting out the pieces for orphan dresses. Come to see our costumes on stage on May 22nd and 23rd!