Dance Performance Assignments

Each of the Assignments below requires the student to:

*Write a 5 paragraph essay in MLA Format (see attached example of format).
*Times New Roman 12 Font and Double Spaced
*Write in their own words. Assignments that are copied from another source will lose points
according to the percentage that is plagiarized.
Assignment #1: Biographical Narrative
Throughout your years in school, you have studied about many
different people. Use the internet to gather research about a famous dancer
or choreographer. What makes this person special enough to study?
Write an essay in which you discuss a person you have studied. Explain
what it is about this person that is special. How did they influence dance?
How did dance influence their life? Use details and examples to support your
IDEAS.
Assignment #2: Biographical Narrative
Dance is becoming a more popular subject for television shows, which has exposed a wide
range of people to the various styles of dance. Think about a dance you may have seen that made
an impact on you.
Write a composition in which you discuss this dance. Share details relating to the style of
dance, the subject (if there was one) of the dance, and how the details of costuming, lighting, etc
may have influenced the performance. Be sure to support your ideas with details and examples.
Assignment #3: Expository Process (How to) Essay
Prepare a letter to a younger student at your school, explaining how to be successful in a
Dance class. Be sure to include specific examples and details.
Make Up Assignment #4: Expository Process (How to) Essay
At this point in the year, we have all created dances in class. Write instructions for
making up a dance within a group. In an essay, describe each step to creating a dance within a
group. Do not forget to include the social dynamics of the group (such as how work will be
divided and how decisions will be made).
Make Up Assignment #5: Persuasive Writing
Including art, dance, drama, and music in a students education is a topic of national
debate. Some people believe that these subjects are not a necessary part of a students education.
Others believe that these subjects are not only needed but are vital to a well-rounded education.
Write a persuasive essay explaining whether or not art, dance, drama, and music are an
important part of a students education. Be sure to provide reasons and evidence for your
position.
Make Up Assignment #6: Persuasive Writing
It is Dance Recital time again for your high school. Your principal wants to see a high
audience turnout and has appointed you to write an essay for the student newspaper, convincing
your peers to come see the show.
Write an essay persuading your fellow students to attend the recital. Include a thesis and
develop it with sufficient examples and details.

Make Up Assignment #7: Biographical Narrative

Throughout your years in school, you have studied about many
different people. Use the internet to gather research about a famous dancer
or choreographer (should be a different person that assignment #1). What
makes this person special enough to study?
Write an essay in which you discuss a person you have studied. Explain
what it is about this person that is special. How did they influence dance?
How did dance influence their life? Use details and examples to support your
IDEAS.
Make Up Assignment #8: Expository Process (How to) Essay
Write instructions for preparing a dance for a formal performance. In an essay, describe
each step to refining a dance and the added decisions one must make regarding the aesthetics of a
performance.
Make Up Assignment #9: Persuasive Writing
Would you like to take a bowling class, a class on hip hop, or maybe a class on creative
writing? Think about a class that you would like to add to the ERHS course selection catalog.
Write a letter to our principal, persuading her to add your newly created class to the
course catalog. Name and describe your class, and give specific reasons why she should add it to
our curriculum.
Make Up Assignment #10: Biographical Narrative
If you could be in charge of Dance Class for one day what would you do? What style of
dance would you study? What specific activities would you do to study this style?
Write a narrative essay describing what you would do to explore this dance form. Be sure
to use details and evidence supporting your ideas.
Make Up Assignment #11: Persuasive Writing
You have viewed and created several different forms of dance throughout this year.
Choose one style, covered in class this year, which you consider your favorite. Also, think about
what elements of the dance style made it your favorite: the setting, type of movement, difficulty,
or ideas that challenged your thinking.
Write a letter to a non-dancer recommending they try the style of dance that you really
enjoyed. Support your opinions with specific examples from your experience, including the
reasons that this style is your favorite. Be sure to address your audiences biases.
Make Up Assignment #12: Persuasive Writing

Marcia Haydee said Someone need not be perfect to be a great dancer- feeling a
soul is more important than what the body can do.
Write a persuasive essay explaining whether or not you agree with this quote. Be sure to
provide reasons and evidence for your position.
Make Up Assignment #13: Biographical Narrative
Dance class is not your usual academic course, as it requires you to try new things and
perform them in front of others. Which parts of the class were easy for you? Which parts were
challenging? How did you overcome these challenges?
Write a letter to a friend describing your experience in dance class this year. Be sure to
provide examples and give details about your participation in the class.

Make Up Assignment #14: Expository Process (How to) Essay

Explain how to decipher the meaning of a dance. Give specific criteria you would use.
Make Up Assignment #15: Biographical Narrative
The quote, Dancing is the art of getting your feet out of the way faster than your partner
can step on them relates to the need for a dancer to respond to their partners advancement
toward them by stepping back and getting out of the way. Have you ever been in a position where
someone was being aggressive toward you and you had to respond to them by stepping back or
giving in? Was that helpful in resolving the conflict?
Write a narrative essay describing that experience. Be sure to provide examples and give
details about the conflict between you and the other person and how stepping back allowed you to
better work together to resolve the conflict.

Checklist for Your Writing

The following checklist will help you do your best work. Make sure you:
Read the description of the task carefully.
Organize your writing with a strong introduction, body, and conclusion.
Use specific details and examples to fully support your ideas.
Use appropriate words for your audience and purpose.
Vary your sentences to make your writing interesting to read.
Check for mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and sentence formation.

(Header including Last name & page #)

Your Name
Mrs. Rodriguez
Dance Performance, Period __
Date

Title of your Essay

Introduction Paragraph (Thesis)
Body 1
Body 2
Body 3
Conclusion Paragraph