Cultural Dance

Students research different cultural dances.

Level: Jr High School
Originated by: Treetop Publishing

Some of the popular dances in the United States include Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Jazz, Line Dancing – there are many more! The several different types reflect our diversity – but are they cultural dances or social dances? A cultural dance is a dance from a specific country or culture, often passed down through generations. A social dance is one that is popular for entertainment and is
common and shared or learned among several countries.

Research five countries for their cultural dances. For each country:

• Include that country’s history of of one or more of it’s dances
• Tell about the traditional costume or make-up that would be worn for the dance
• What does the dance celebrate or commemorate – or is it just for fun?
• What type of instuments are played for the dance music?
• If possible, watch a cultural dance video on You Tube – this may be a good starting point for which countries you want to research
• Include a picture of people performing the dance
• Tell where you might find people in the United States performing this dance
• Tell how the dance has changed or if it has remained the same over time
• Write about the social dances that are currently popular in that country
• Include a map of where the country is located

Now research the cultural dances of the United States. Because we are The Great Melting Pot, you will find several different countries represented in our cultural dance. Think of the people who were here when this land was discovered. Research at least one Native American dance, tell us about the tribe that it represents, and include the information listed above.

Decorate the cover of your book as a collage of the different dances. Either hand-draw objects that might be included in the traditional dance costume, or draw a map and include the location of the countries you’ve researched. Include a table of contents at the beginning of the book.