The Daytime Dance residency is designed to integrate seamlessly into your classroom’s curriculum while aligning with Colorado Academic Standards for Dance. Before the residency begins,
the Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement team collaborates with classroom teachers to tailor lessons to specific grade levels, themes, and learning goals.
For example, a 3rd grade residency was built around Colorado Ballet’s production of Alice in Wonderland where professional teaching artists guided
students through the dance making process. Students explored dance concepts through the lens of characters, narrative structure, and imaginative settings from the ballet, while meeting the
following 3rd Grade Colorado Dance Standards:
- Create, Compose, and Choreograph: Students created simple dances based on story elements through guided lessons and
collaborative movement.
- Reflect, Connect, and Respond: Students used dance vocabulary to describe movement and made connections between dance,
literature, and storytelling.
The residency culminated in 5 unique dances, each choreographed collaboratively by small groups of students. These were student-led creations that reflected both individual interpretation and
collective decision-making, demonstrating a deep engagement with the artistic process.
This themed approach not only brought the ballet to life in the classroom, but also deepened students' understanding of both movement and academic content. Similar integrations can be created
for a wide range of focus areas across grade levels.
An optional in-school performance or classroom sharing session can be included to celebrate student work and reinforce learning outcomes.
