Dance at Wandsworth Prep

In PE this half term, pupils have been learning about dance through a concept-based approach. The idea of a concept-based dance/movement programme was pioneered by Rudolf von Laban, a Hungarian dancer, choreographer and teacher and the founding figure of Central European modern dance. He studied movement in the broadest terms from the theatre to the factory. One of his central interests was creating a universal language or classification system for describing and noting movement. A conceptual approach to dance/creative movement draws upon a movement classification system that describes our bodies, how they move, and their relationship to themselves, other bodies and the space they are operating in. We are learning concepts of body, movement, space, form, time and force.

In the videos below you can see Key Stage 2 pupils exploring the concept of body, as well as learning how to move in relation to another and how to take and give weight, resistance and counter-resistance. 

Key Stage 1 are exploring the concept of body and space. What shapes can our bodies make? Can we make shapes at different levels? In what ways can we move through space?

The pupils are thoroughly enjoying exploring movement and creating their own dances.

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 1