Dance Experts: Learn One and Teach It to Another Group

Each expert group learns one world dance in depth from a sheet, then its members split up to teach it to other groups. By the end everyone has learned several dances and taken a turn as the teacher.

How to play

1. Form six expert groups; each gets the sheet for one dance (for example: Israeli hora, céilí, samba de roda, sardana, huayno, tī rākau) (3 min).
2. Experts learn the dance, prepare a 30-second explanation of its origin and plan how to teach it in three steps (12 min).
3. Mixed groups with one person from each dance: each expert teaches theirs in about three minutes (18 min).
4. Back to the expert groups to talk about what worked when teaching (3 min).
5. Each mixed group picks one of the dances they learned and performs it for the class (4 min).

Rules

• Teachers speak clearly, count out loud and go slowly first.
• Learners listen and give it a try, even if it doesn't work yet.
• Origin facts come from the sheet, no making things up.
• Groups work in separate areas with the music turned low.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the sheet includes drawings and the expert teaches face to face with clear gestures.
• Students with limited mobility: they can be experts who teach with voice and arms while a groupmate demonstrates the footwork.
• Students nervous about speaking: teach in a pair with another expert from the same dance.

Learning goals

• Learn and pass on a traditional dance to others.
• Explain the cultural background of a dance accurately.
• Cooperate so the whole group learns.

Equipment for a class of 25

• dance sheets: 6
• speaker: 2

Teacher tip

Prepare one-page sheets with steps, counts and three facts about the origin; with more than 30 students, double up a dance. Two speakers or phones are enough: groups take turns with the music.

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