Arts Integration Programs: Inspiring Students to Learn

Academic lessons that blend Math or Social Studies with Dance can be provided, as a special fun incentive to learn.  A few such programs are described here.

PROGRAM # 1. (Grades 8-12) 
Using Salsa Dancing To Teach Concepts In Geometry

A variety of principles in Mathematics can be illustrated by a Cuban Salsa dancing circle.  This style of Salsa is done by couples in a circle with frequent partner exchanges. In this program students first learn dance steps, then diagram the dance formation, answering questions about the geometric relationships that are constructed. For example, dancers need to maintain a well formed circle, which means that a line is drawn between each leader and his follower would be a tangent to the circle.  And if you extended those lines, you would be drawing a regular polygon.  Many other relationships can be observed. Congruent triangles are created when radii to certain points on the circle are drawn, and students can prove congruence between some of the triangles.

PROGRAM  #2. (Grades 5-10)  
Mathematical Calculations In Preparing a Salsa Performance

To arrange a dance performance, music must be prepared so that it has the right number of beats for a specific choreography, and must end in a way that the music sounds “finished.”   Calculations on how to do this can be made by students.  In this lesson, students can be introduced to a few moves, count the beats in each, and then figure out how they would choreograph a presentation using those moves to music.

PROGRAM # 3. (Grades 5 to 12: Social Studies)
Hispanic Culture: Contributions To the World

A lesson on Latin dancing makes a very natural accompaniment to a Social Studies unit. Students could be introduced to several popular Latin dances (e.g. Bachata, Merengue, Salsa and Cha Cha) and the history, underlying rhythm, and cultural relevance of each dance could be discussed.  This program is suitable for Social Studies units on Latin America, and for “Hispanic Heritage Month” celebrations.  Bernstein’s 6 minute documentary film on Cuban Salsa could be shown.