Back to NDEO Site
Pre-Teen - Option 1: Thank You Notes Materials: paper, markers, tape Optional: dancers could write in actual thank you cards, rather than on blank paper Break into partners or small groups to discuss the following questions (read one question at a time): • What are some things that your body helped you do today? • Do you ever get frustrated with your body? What are some things you should remember when that happens? • What are some ways you can thank your body for everything it does? Come back together to discuss as a group (allowing dancers to share with the whole class if they are comfortable). Hand out papers and markers and ask dancers to write a thank you note to their body, e.g. Dear body, Thank you for helping me to dance my favorite part of ballet class, waltzing! Love, Mary
Materials: paper, markers, tape
Break dancers out into pairs or small groups. One of the things we do during Love Your Body Week is celebrate all the things that make each of us unique. We can use our hands as one little example of that idea.
• Compare your hand to your partners - there are many things about them that are the same, and they function in the same way, but what looks different about them? What is unique about your hand? • List for your partner some of the things about you that are unique - these could be things about how you look or what your body can do, or about who you are as a person. • After listening to your partner, you can add to their list! What do you see that makes your partner unique? • Sometimes the things that make us unique can also make us feel like an outsider. Have you experienced this? Share an example with your partner if you are comfortable.
• What can we do to build a community in which it is safe to be different?
Once each dancer has shared with their partner(s), come back together as a group. Allow time for sharing if they are comfortable. Ask dancers to trace their hand on their paper. Have them write “I am...” in the palm, and then something that they like about themselves in each of the five fingers. Post hands on the mirror.
Materials: device with video, paper, markers, tape
We have a video to show you today of a tap dancer named Evan Ruggiero. One thing that makes Evan unique is that he only has one leg. When asked about what he thinks about being a dancer with one leg, Evan answered that it makes him “a more beautiful dancer”. Video: After watching the video, ask the following questions to the whole class: • What strikes you most about Evan as a dancer? • Reflect on Evan’s statement that he is “a more beautiful dancer” because of his unique body. Do you agree? • What can we learn from his story? How can you apply it to your life as a dancer? Come back together to discuss as a group, allowing dancers to share with the whole class if they are comfortable. Hand out papers and markers and ask dancers to write a statement about what makes them unique as a dancers, i.e. “I am a beautiful dancer because...” Encourage them to speak positively about something that makes them different, e.g. “I am a beautiful dancer because I dance with my whole heart” or “I am a beautiful dancer because my strong legs give me power”. Post statements on the mirror.
Materials: flower templates, markers, tape
One way to practice loving our body is to recognize all of the ways that we are unique and capable. Just like taking care of a plant, growing appreciation for our body requires our time and attention. Pass out flower template pages: Flower Template Today we are going to practice identifying some of the unique things about ourselves. In the center of your flower, it says “I am.” Write down at least one strength on each petal. You can write down something about your dancing that is a strength, like your stamina, or you can write down something about your personality that is a strength, like being caring. You can design your own flower if you’d like. After the activity, break the dancers into partners, and ask the following questions one at a time: • What did it feel like to write down your strengths? • Now we are going to practice sharing one of our strengths with our partner. Tell your partner about at least one of your strengths, and give your partner a chance to share as well. • What did it feel like to share your strengths with your partner? • Is it ok to be proud of ourselves? • How can we grow positivity in our community? • What strengths do you admire in others? Invite the partners to share as a group if they are comfortable. Afterward, ask the students to post their “I am” flower on the mirror. Reflect on their experience of posting their strengths and encourage them to look at the strengths of others.
Dancers today we are going to start with a video of a dancer named Ingrid Silva. She is from Brazil, and now dances for a ballet company called Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. Video: After watching the video, ask the following questions one at a time to the whole class: • What do you notice about Ingrid as a dancer? • In the video she talks about doubting herself and wanting to give up. What do you think helped her to keep going? • In the video Ingrid says that it’s her difference that make her a stronger dancer. What are some unique things about you that help make you a strong dancer? • Ingrid also says that “anyone can be a dancer”. We think that’s really important. Do you think that’s important? Why? Come back together as a full group, and invite dancers to share what came up with their partners if they are comfortable. Pass out paper and markers. Ingrid’s statement that “anyone can be a dancer” is what we would like you to focus on as you are writing your paper to post on the mirror today. Think of an inspiring message to help other dancers have the courage to keep dancing, even if they feel like they don’t “look like a typical dancer”. When you’re finished, we’ll hang your papers on the mirror to encourage others.
Materials: Mirror templates, markers, tape Break dancers up into partners or small groups, and ask the following questions one at a time: • Here in our studio we have these great big mirrors up on the walls. Now this week we are covering them up a little at a time for Love Your Body Week, but normally we face them and use them for class right? What do the mirrors help us do in class? • You probably have lots of mirrors in your house too. What do we use those for? • Mirrors can be very useful, But sometimes, when we look into a mirror, our brains might see or think about somethings that we don’t like very much about ourselves. How does it make you feel when that happens? • We think it’s very important to think and say kind things to ourselves when we look in the mirror like “I am strong” or “I am beautiful”. Do you think that’s important? Why? Come back together as a full group, and ask dancers to share what they discussed with their partners if they are comfortable. Pass out the mirror prompt template pages: Mirror Template We have some papers with pictures of mirrors on them for you today. At the top of your mirror it says “I am...”, and we would like for you to write some of the amazing things you are in the mirror part here. They can be about you as a dancer or as a person. We’ll post your mirror on our big mirror today. When LYBW is over, you can take it home to put up on one of your own mirrors at home, to remind yourself of these wonderful things about you when you look into that mirror too!
Materials: “10 Ways to Love Your Body” handout, paper, markers, tape Sometimes it can feel difficult to love our body because we don’t know where to start. Let’s think about it, has anyone encouraged you to love your body before? Do your friends talk about loving their bodies? Do your family members talk about loving their bodies? What about your teachers at school? If you have a lot of practice loving your body, that’s awesome too. Either way, we brought a list of ways to love your body. Let’s look at this list, and then we will come up with our own ideas and add on to it. Pass out handout: 10 Ways to Love Your Body Ask the dancers if anyone wants to volunteer to read out loud. If no one wants to volunteer, that is ok! Honor Club facilitators or teachers can read. Afterward, break the class into partners or small groups. Ask following questions one at a time: • Which one of the “10 Ways” is the most meaningful for you? • Do you think you can practice one of these things every day? • Which one of the “10 Ways” is the most challenging for you? • What can you say to a friend if they are having a hard time loving their body? • What can you say to yourself if you are having a hard time loving your body? • How can you be a positive role model for younger dancers? Come back together as a full group, and invite dancers to share what came up with their partners if they are comfortable. Pass out paper and markers. On a piece of paper, write down your own unique way to love your body. You can take inspiration from the list or create your own idea! (We want this activity to feel doable, so dancers can copy something from the list). After writing, you can decorate your picture any way that you want to. Once LYBW is over, you can take your project home and hang it up in a place where you can be inspired by it.