By Valerie Gutwirth

I’m on sabbatical this year from my job teaching dance to K-5 students at John Muir Elementary School in Berkeley, California. Back in the fall, I almost unconsciously began compiling a list of music to use some way somehow next year. This list owes a lot to my daughter Sylvie, a high school sophomore. I’ve loved having the time to drive her to school this year and be inspired by her music choices. Here are a few of the songs, and my ideas about where to use them; not exactly a whole class. Here I list the song title, artist, and album name.

 

Soar: Christina Aguilara, Stripped

I’ve used this for a warmup for 4th and 5th grades; it’s especially lovely in the morning. Now I’m wondering about using it for a choreography project with the same grade levels, maybe for 3^rd grade too.  I’d use the lyrics as a jumping-off point, and hope to partner with a classroom unit on poetry. 

Sun Models: ODESZA, In Return

This is great electronica-pop. Definitely for everyone, going across the floor, for freeze dance, for games.

Thanksgiving Song: Mary Chapin Carpenter,  Come Darkness, Come Light: 12 Songs of Christmas

I heard this in my colleague Rosemary Hannon’s classroom this fall. It’s a wonderful window into stories of thankfulness, a way to start kids thinking in movement about their traditions and looking at others. A performance piece for K-2.

Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op.6 No.6: GF Handel, Academy Of St. Martin in the Fields, Iona Brown, Conductor

On my way back from high school drop-off, I cleanse my musical palate with classical. This piece brought to mind a promenade. I teach a folk dance called Kings and Queens to the K and 1 students; this piece will be a jumping-off place for them to create their own dances for royalty.

Keep on Movin’: Soul II Soul, Keep on Movin’

From my teenage years, this is another good one to use anywhere, for almost anything, for every grade level.

Sorry: Justin Bieber, Purpose

For teaching step ball-change or salsa step (K-5), before changing music to –>.

Disco Azucar: Los Van Van, Estrellas de Cuba

Just a fabulous salsa song from a band with a great history. Could be a fun way to begin comparing salsas from different places.

Eye of the Tiger: Survivor, Eye of the Tiger 

Because my first grade colleague Debbie Rogers loves it, and her students will too. I can see many ferocious dances being made, probably as duets.

Unc: Trombone Shorty, For True

I like how the horn plays along the top of this so clearly. It will help introduce the idea of soloist and chorus in a freestyle circle or a choreographed dance, for everybody.

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Related posts:

Artist Profile #26: Valerie Gutwirth (Oakland, CA)

My Dance Week: Valerie Gutwirth

A New Book: Dance Education Essentials by Valerie Gutwirth and Jill Randall

Playlist Project: For PreK-12 Teaching Artists

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