Folk Dances of Eastern Europe

Subject: The Arts: Dance

Grade Levels: PreK-12

Objectives:

• To experience folk dance as a form of expressive art, and to appreciate the rich cultural heritage of Eastern Europe

Sunshine State Standards:

• Grades PreK-2
  • DA.1.1.3
• Grades 3-5
  • DA.B.1.2.2
  • DA.C.1.2.2
• Grades 6-8
  • DA.E.2.3.1
• Grades 9-12
  • DA.D.1.4.1

View all Sunshine State Standards

Background:

During the time before World War II, dance played an important role in the culture of Eastern European villages. Dance was a form of artistic expression, as well as an important component of celebrations and rituals.

Materials:

• notes for dance steps
• plenty of floor space
• regional folk music

Procedure:

• Locate local folk dance instructors or groups to perform and teach students
• check the library for Eastern European folk music to play as the students practice dances

• Lessons for Holocaust education dance step notes are available from the Recreational Folk Dancing Web site
• COCEK - Gypsy dance
  Line dance, arms in W-position, meter 2/4

  Count	Step
  1-2	Facing diagonally R, step L (1) R(2) L(&)
  3-4	Facing center, step back R L
  5-6	Step back on R (1), back on L (2), Step on R, turning to face diagonally L

A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust
Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology,
College of Education, University of South Florida © 1997-2013.