Visual arts

Arts and culture

Grade 4

Critical and creative reflection

Module 11

Dance: warming up

Warming up

Activity

To warm up and prepare the body before executing physical activity [lo 1.1]

• It will be easier and more fun if you warm up with music. Choose music that is not too fast.

• Before attempting any of the activities, you must warm up your body. Warming-up reduces the risk of injury and will make the dances easier to do.

Breathing and spinal warming-up

• Inhale through the nose for four counts and gradually lift arms sideways.
• Stretch your spine.
• Exhale through the mouth for four counts and gradually lower arms.

• Repeat breathing exercise.
• Stand with feet hip width apart – knees slightly bent – arms down at sides.
• Roll down the spine for 8 counts – starting with the head, shoulders, torso, hips.
• Roll the spine back up for 8 counts – starting with the lower back, torso, shoulders and head until the back is straight.
• Repeat 4 times.
• Stand up straight – feet hip width apart – roll both shoulders backwards 4 times.
• Roll both shoulders forward 4 times.

• Take straight arms up to the sides – shoulder height – flex hands.
• Keep arms straight and push to the right – shifting the upper body to the right – keeping hips and feet still.
• Push to the left.
• Repeat 8 times.

• Put your hands on your hips – keep upper body still – rotate your hips – keeping legs still and feet on the floor.
• Repeat 8 times.

• Keep hands on hips and walk on the spot for 8 counts.
• Lift your right knee 4 times.
• Lift your left knee 4 times.

• Lift your right knee 2 times.
• Lift your left knee 2 times.
• Lift your knees alternately 8 times.

The Plié (pronounced: plee-ay )

• Open your legs wide.
• Bend and straighten your knees – keep body straight– buttocks in line with your back.

• 

  Repeat 8 times.

• Bring your feet together – feet facing outward – heels together.
• Bend and straighten your knees.
• Repeat 8 times.

Foot warm-up

• Stand up straight – hands on hips.

• Point and flex your right foot 8 times.
• Point and flex your left foot 8 times.

Assessment

LEARNING OUTCOME 1: CREATING, INTERPRETING AND PRESENTING The learner will be able to create, interpret and present work in each of the art forms.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

1.1 in preparing the body, follows a teacher-directed warm-up and skill developing ritual, with attention to safe use of the body, for example

• knees aligned over toes when bending;
• articulation (toe-heel-bend) of the feet and bending knees when landing from jumps;
• good posture at all times.