DEL Foundations

Module 1 welcomes participants to the DEL online community and provides an introduction to the DEL Model and Mission Statement. You will:

• Meet DEL Founder, Jody Gottfried Arnhold
• Learn about the history and origins of the DEL program established in 1995 at the 92NY in New York City
• Read rupplemental readings and view the documentary film, PS Dance!  which celebrates dance education in NYC public schools
• Create a rationale for comprehensive dance education for all learners

In Module 2, you will:

• Explore the philosophical and educational foundations of dance education by examining key theorists in education, psychology, and human development
• Be introduced to the four categories of the DEL Dance Framework (Body, Effort, Space, and Relationship) based on applied Laban Movement Analysis (LMA)

In Module 3, you will:

• Explore the first category of the DEL Dance Framework, Body, and learn about action words
• Explore how to create movement sentences with action words
• Learn how to create “juicy” movement sentences and vary them using the DEL Dance Framework

In Module 4, you will:

• Explore the Effort category of the DEL Dance Framework
• Reflect on how Effort can be explored in dance-making
• Choreograph an Effort-inspired dance 

The Effort category of the DEL Dance Framework explores the dynamics of movement including weight, time, space, and flow.  Effort identifies how the body moves in terms of qualities of movement and the ways in which actions are performed. Descriptive words such as adjectives and adverbs are used to describe and analyze the texture, mood, feeling, and imagery involved in dance.

In Module 5, you will:

• Explore the Space category of the DEL Dance Framework
• Participate in a Space movement exploration, read or view several resources linked to Space, and create a short reflection response
• Practice teaching a Space Exploration following a Teacher’s Script or designing your own exploration

Space describes where the body moves in space and increases a student’s spatial awareness. The Space category explores the spatial components of dance including personal vs. general space, levels, directions, pathways, and a wide range of Space words, such as above and below, for example. 

In Module 6, you will:

• Explore the Relationship category of the DEL Dance Framework
• Practice teaching a Relationship Exploration exercise.   

The Relationship category focuses on with whom the dancer is moving and identifies different types of Relationships that exist in dance, such as body parts in Relationship to each other, individuals in Relationship to each other or within groupings, plus connections to music and other disciplines, for example. In the DEL Model, the Relationship chart is a primary area that describes choreographic tools that dancers can use in dance making.  Actions such as mirroring, shadowing, leading/following, meeting/parting are examples of choreographic tools that help organize groups in space.

In Module 7, you will:

• Explore how to combine the four categories of the DEL Dance Framework to create interesting and dynamic dance-making inspired by the theme of Sea Creatures
• Focus on the key components of the DEL lesson plan format, review several examples of DEL-based lesson plans, and learn how to design an original lesson plan

The DEL Model uses the DEL Dance Framework to develop lesson plans that include opportunities for student-generated choreography. The DEL lesson plan format emphasizes a scaffolded learning arc that follows a sequential and organic flow from introduction and warm-up, to exploration and development, to culmination, reflection, and relaxation—with dance-making at the core.

In Module 8, you will:

• Gain an understanding of developmental benchmarks in children and teens by reviewing several resources summarizing developmental benchmarks across the grade bands, and viewing the PS Dance! Next Generation documentary film
• Learn strategies for addressing and supporting diverse learners and students with disabilities

The DEL Model is accessible to all learners, and encourages dance educators to be well-versed in human development and developmental benchmarks to support a positive movement learning experience. In order to design age-appropriate lessons and units, it is vital to know who the student is and to have an understanding and appreciation for the student as a whole person.

In Module 9, you will:

• Experience Making Connections between dance and other disciplines, with a focus on making connections between dance and language arts
• Expand your understanding of how dance can and does make connections to other disciplines and subject areas
• Explore an integrated dance, visual arts, and poetry unit and engage in a dance-making experience inspired by the Maya Angelou poem, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, illustrated by Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Design an integrated dance and language arts lesson, or an integrated dance and science lesson
• Review selected lessons that make connections between dance and different disciplines as inspiration for your lesson planning

DEL encourages multiple entry points into dance, such as thematic-based learning, genre or dance technique-specific lessons, as well as arts-integrated or interdisciplinary curriculum design. One of DEL’s mottos is that you can make a dance about anything! DEL values dance as a discrete, essential, rich arts discipline, and encourages teachers to build curricula around dance as an art form. 

In Module 10, you will:

• Reflect on your experience and learning in the DEL Foundations course and think about the big concepts, ideas, and issues within dance education that resonate for you as takeaways
• Reflect on the application of the DEL Model in your own teaching or dance practice
• Articulate a vision statement that reflects the core of your Teacher’s Heart, and embody your teacher’s Heart through a solo dance-making activity