DEL Dance and Literacy:
Creating Connections

Year 2: DEL Dance and Literacy: Creating Connections

Welcome to the DEL Dance and Literacy: Creating Connections Curriculum, the second curricular module of the DEL Dance and Literacy Curriculum Project developed by the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL).

Informed by guidance from literacy specialists and dance education experts, this integrated dance and literacy curriculum aims to improve foundational literacy skills through dance and movement learning. The curriculum is anchored in the NYC Blueprint Dance Literacy Standards, NYS Anchor Standards, and NYC ELA Next Generation Standards.

The DEL Dance and Literacy: Creating Connections curriculum emphasizes language learning objectives such as vocabulary-building, reading comprehension, and speaking and writing skills, which are integrated into the dance learning process. 

Click Below to Access the Curriculum

Note: When downloading any curriculum documents, we recommend downloading in PDF form to avoid formatting shifts. 

Pre-K: Hush!

Curriculum Writer: Daria Fitzgerald

K-2: Thank You, Omu!

Curriculum Writer: Carina Rubaja

3-5: Drawn Together

Curriculum Writer: Dawn DiPasquale

D75 K-2: I Can Share

Curriculum Writer: Sandi Stratton-Gonzalez

D75 3-5: Dancing Connections

Curriculum Writer: Sandi Stratton-Gonzalez

Dance and Literacy Teacher Toolkit

To supplement the DEL Dance and Literacy Curriculum, DEL designed a digital Teacher Toolkit for dance educators to use to provide literacy supports in the Pre-K-5 dance classroom. The Toolkit includes:

  • A set of 81 printable/projectable DEL Dance and Literacy Picture Cards that illustrate dance vocabulary.
  • A series of printable/projectable DEL Basics charts, that can be used to describe, embody, and create dance in the classroom.
  • A Language Scaffolds and Literacy Strategies Guide for educators
  • A Supports For Diverse Learners Guide for educators

We invite you to use these resources as tools to enhance the literacy strategies in your dance classroom!

The creation of the DEL Dance and Literacy: Creating Connections Curriculum was made possible by the New York Community Trust.
Banner Image Photo Credit: Danica Paulos