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      Dance: can you use improvisation to articulate your feelings?

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can create a captivating dance performance that expresses my feelings.

      Key learning points

      1. Move: improvising requires adaptation to move the body freely to reflect different emotions.
      2. Think: using improvisation requires you to think about how your choices of movement communicate specific feelings.
      3. Feel: expressing emotions through dance requires confidence and awareness of your feelings.
      4. Connect: drawing on your own experiences allows your performance to feel meaningful and engaging.

      Keywords

      • Improvisation - to move spontaneously, without prior planning

      • Emotion - a feeling you experience in response to different situations, people or events - these can be positive or negative

      • Awareness - being conscious of your environment, actions, thoughts and feelings

      Common misconception

      Improvising can have a negative effect on a dance sequence.

      Improvising is actually a useful way to explore ideas, express emotions and develop new movements. It allows dancers to be creative and adapt their sequence, which can make the dance more interesting and personal.

      Equipment

      Optional choice of music

      Content guidance

      Risk assessment required - physical activity

      Supervision

      Adult supervision required

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Expressive skills are performance qualities made up of musicality, projection, extension, facial expression and what else?

      levels
      songs
      Correct answer: focus
      running

      Q2.
      Which is a good example of how to change the dynamics of a performance?

      changing levels
      changing direction
      changing the action
      Correct answer: changing the energy

      Q3.
      What gesture might be most suited to portray an angry emotion?

      waving your hands slowly
      Correct answer: stomping your feet aggressively
      sliding left quickly
      stretching slowly

      Q4.
      What musicality would be most suited to portray a sad emotion?

      fast, lively music
      slow, spooky music
      strong, heavy music
      Correct answer: slow, soft music

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What is it called in dance when you move spontaneously, without prior planning?

      emotion
      awareness
      Correct answer: improvisation

      Q2.
      Which of the following is not an emotion?

      anxious
      Correct answer: slow
      tired
      frustrated

      Q3.
      Which gesture might be most appropriate for portraying happiness?

      yawning
      Correct answer: jumping up, waving hands
      stretching slowly
      moving sideways with your head down

      Q4.
      How can you link your choreography successfully to emotions?

      copy someone else’s dance moves exactly
      perform random movements without thinking about the feeling
      Correct answer: use your own experiences of feeling different emotions

      To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Dance: can you use improvisation to articulate your feelings?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...