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Teacher: Bo Mielczak who teaches at Stallings Elementary in Stallings, NC. Bo Mielczak can be contacted at bo.mielczak@ucps.k12.nc.us.
Name of Best Practice: International Folk Dance Before School Club
Rationale/Purpose of Event: To incorporate International dance in a before school program while learning about the countries the dances come from.
Suggested Grade Level: K-2, 3-5
Materials Needed: Music, music player, dance steps, computer.
International Folk Dance Before School Club
The Stallings Elementary has the before school International Folk Dance Club. This is our second year. The club meets on Tuesdays 7:30 - 8:00 am. The school day starts at 8:15. This year the club members developed a plan to learn variety of folk dances from different countries, create power point presentations about the countries of learned dances, make presentations to each grade level, once per grading period, teach dances during the presentations to students and lead a large group dance taught during the session and in PE classes. Presentations are scheduled during the special classes’ times for each grade level (all classes of each grade level come to specials at the same time). The length of a program depends on grade level and if we have available speakers from featured countries. The following are a list of programs and the dances and music used: November 2013 - Third grade level - USA – Cotton Eye Joe 1 (Crazy Frog. More Crazy Hits), Yankee Doodle, Alley Cat (All-Time Favorite Dances CD) December 2013 - Fourth Grade – Japan – Tanko Bushi - Rhythmically Moving 9 P. S. Weikart, ISBN: 1-57379-178-4. Also included in the program: Cotton Eye Joe 1 (Crazy Frog. More Crazy Hits), Wobble (Instrumental version), Cupid Shuffle, Bunny Hops (Christy Lane’s Complete Dance Party Music), Conga (All-Time Favorite Dances) February 2014 - Fifth Grade – continent Africa- Bela Kawe - Rhythmically Moving 3 P. S. Weikart, ISBN: 1-57379-142-3. Also included in the program: Cotton Eye Joe 1 (Crazy Frog. More Crazy Hits), Wobble (Instrumental version), Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide (Christy Lane’s Complete Dance Party Music), Bunny Hops (Christy Lane’s Complete Dance Party Music), Conga (All-Time Favorite Dances) April 2014 - Second Grade - Greece – Kalamatianos ( Needs slower music for kids than the song). Also additional dances in program: Chicken Dance (various records), Bunny Hops (Christy Lane’s Complete Dance Party Music), Conga (All-Time Favorite Dances) May 2014 - First Grade – Denmark- Danish Dance of Greeting – (Simple Folk Dances CD). Also additional dances in program: Children’s Polka (Simple Folk Dances), Shoemaker’s Dance (Simple Folk Dances), Chicken Dance (various records)
(Any Practice receiving 5 Votes earns Blue Ribbon Status on PEC)
Posted on PEC: 2/25/2014 and has received 5 votes.

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