Lesson Plan IV

ALICIA PANIAGUA
SALSA IN THE AMERICAS
DANCE WORKSHOPS
LESSON IV

Concept: Enhancing literacy by communicating with language, image, and movement.

Elements and Skills of Art Form
Basic Step
Partner work
Basic Turn
Sabor

Student Outcomes:
Students will be able to:
• Describe the qualities that are involved in choosing a good Salsa partner.(AP, AV)
• Perform basic locomotor skills (e.g. walk, balance, turn) (AP)
• Learn, compose, perform and practice set choreography to the first stanzas of the song “Yo Vivire”(AP)
• Discuss the meaning and understand how history can be kept alive through dancers feet or a drummer’s hand. (HCC)
• Discuss the meaning of certain dance terms that apply to Salsa dancing and explore how they could embrace these terms in their own dancing. (HCC)
• Make connections of qualities in choosing a good partner with qualities in choosing a good friend.(AV, CA)
• Distinguish LA style Salsa dancing and be able to explain the origins of this style.


Progression of Content, Skills, and Tasks:

Anticipatory Set:
Artist
• Introduce core goals of class
• Leads warm-up: basic step, locomotor movements, across the floor movement.
• Explore the qualities that determine a good partner in Salsa dancing.
• Further explain and re-emphasize how literacy prepares us for communication between ourselves, each other, our partner and is represented in dance, writing, and imagery.
• Introduce Celia Cruz’s lyrics of the day.
• Share the song that coined the term Salsa along with the following information:
Latin Music began to spring interest among the Americas around 1940 and 1969. In the late 1970’s Salsa was on high demand. Salsa is usually a partner dance. The word is the same as the Spanish word “salsa” which means sauce, which many relate to flavour or style. The name took root from a song titled “Echale salsita” by Ignacio Pineiro. (Play a snippet of this song) and was made popular through the commentary of New York DJ. A well-known artist in Salsa era is Celia Cruz who has been labelled the “Queen of Salsa”. LA style salsa dancing is very modern, as it was developed between 1999 and 2000. It is highly influenced by Hollywood and by the swing and mambo dances. It is considered the flashiest style. Most common steps in this style the basic step and the cross body lead.

Assessing Prior Knowledge:
• Ask students to share if they have translated the verse that was assigned as their follow up.
• Discuss if any had ever thought there to be different styles of Salsa.


Getting Smarter:
Exploring physical movement
Warm up bodies with salsa.

Practicing Basic Step

Practicing Cumbia Step or Side to Side Step

Exploring Partnering Work

Exploring good Qualities of a good partner

Exploring the concept of “Sabor” in dancing and how it relates to individual style and everyday life

Becoming an Expert: Learn salsa choreography

Meaningful Task and Criteria for Assessment

Describe Task
Explore how feet and hands can keep culture alive.
Share the Latin American value that was brought to class.
Explore the qualities that make a good partner.
Describe that Salsa has many different styles.

➢ CRITERIA
Dancers should
o Demonstrate cooperative attitudes when working alone or with a partner.
o Demonstrate gentle touch and self-control during partnering work.
o Demonstrate awareness of shape, pathways and basic step.
o Memorize the sequence of movements.
o Perform the dance with ease, focus, and concentration.
1) Looks at the Partner 2) Is Trustworthy 3) Good Communication 4) Finds Connection with partner.

Verbal Assessment:
Reflection Circle
Reconvene as large group to discuss and compare experiences of performing. Teacher poses meaningful question to group:
In what ways do we see individuals performing “sabor” in their every day lives?
(Explain in what other areas of our everyday lives we use these same basic principles)

Making Connections
• Review the Lesson
o Review the skills learned, lesson format, tasks and criteria


Key Vocabulary:
Sabor / Flavor/Style Salsa / LA style Salsa Basic Step Basic Turn Partner Work Leader /Follower