Creative Dance Inspirations: Facilitating Expression

Susan Free teaches movement in the drama program at the University of
Toronto.

Although Creative Dance Inspirations is primarily aimed at would-be
teachers of dance and movement within the school system, it is a useful
little book for any dance teacher. For those teaching inside the school
system, who are not themselves trained dance teachers, the book offers
many simple but engaging ideas for creative dance activities that can be
tied to curriculum themes. For experienced dance teachers, the book
offers some fresh material to add to their repertoires.

After a helpful overview of the building blocks of creative dance and
advice on preparing lesson plans, the book is divided into chapters of
practical applications for children at different stages:
“Pre-school,” “Early Years,” “Middle Years,” and “Senior
Years.” The lesson plans are clearly organized around both a movement
theme and a creative theme, with suggestions of images and music that
may facilitate the activities.

The formal curriculum in many school boards now includes movement and
dance, and there is a great need for related teacher resources. This
book will help address that need.