Dancestorming
The compound word, dancestorming, is a combination of dance and brainstorming. It is a way to think of the many possibilities with various movements. It is related to my discussion of the Principle of Infinite Variation and is also inspired by the work of my colleague at Weber State University, Erik Stern, who together with Karl Schaffer created Math Dance. Review their website and read their book for a mind-bending/expanding exploration of the many connections between dance and math. They don't use the term, dancestorming, but their approach involves brainstorming about the many possibilities within a single movement.
This is one way dancestorming can work:
1. Choose any type of movement. This could be a non-locomotor movement like swaying, clapping hands, scissors, etc. Or it could be a locomotor movement like walking or skipping. It could also involve moving from one point to another.
2. Ask how many ways the movement could be done. Let the students explore. How many ways can you sway? How many ways can you clap your hands? How many different types of scissors could you make with your body? How many different ways are there to walk? How many creative ways could we move from point A to point B?
3. Share ideas with the rest of the group and give others an opportunity to imitate.
4. Count the various ways to move (this is where math can come in).
5. Put the different ways to move together into longer sequences (choreography).
This is one way dancestorming can work:
1. Choose any type of movement. This could be a non-locomotor movement like swaying, clapping hands, scissors, etc. Or it could be a locomotor movement like walking or skipping. It could also involve moving from one point to another.
2. Ask how many ways the movement could be done. Let the students explore. How many ways can you sway? How many ways can you clap your hands? How many different types of scissors could you make with your body? How many different ways are there to walk? How many creative ways could we move from point A to point B?
3. Share ideas with the rest of the group and give others an opportunity to imitate.
4. Count the various ways to move (this is where math can come in).
5. Put the different ways to move together into longer sequences (choreography).