Dance Around the World: Fun and Easy Cultural Folk Dances (Ages 8-12)
Laura Arnold
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(13)
An on-going class where students will learn fun, easy folk dances from different countries including India, Ireland, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, the United States, and more! Use coupon code ARNOLD6 for half off your first class.
Class experience
US Grade 2 - 5
Beginner Level
Looking for dance lessons that aren't your typical ballet, tap, or jazz class? Then try international folk dancing! Join us in a multicultural experience as we learn dances from around the world. Each week in this ongoing class, we will explore a cultural dance style from a different country such as Chile, Ecuador, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States, and more! We will identify the specific...
Students will execute dance steps from different countries by applying principles of rhythm, timing, and movement. Students will identify cultural distinctions between countries including geography, cultural dress, and dance movements. Students will practice safe dance habits by warming up and cooling down.
I have always been passionate about dance, and I have a rich variety of dance experience. Growing up, I took Irish dance lessons for 10 years. I attended Brigham Young University where I received a minor in cultural dance and spent 4 years performing and touring with the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble. During that time, I received dance training from master dancers and choreographers from around the world including India, Mexico, Serbia, China, Canada, and Hungary, just to name a few. I also taught beginner-level cultural dance classes at the university and a 4-week introduction to Irish dance class for kids ages 5-7. I hold a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, and I’m a certified therapeutic recreation specialist and have experience as a certified adaptive dance instructor. With these credentials, I’m able to adapt dances to the physical and intellectual abilities of all learners and create an inclusive environment for everyone.
Learners should be prepared with comfortable clothes and shoes that do not hinder their movement. Learners should also have enough space in which to safely move around (about the size of a blanket laid out on the ground) and a webcam setup that allows the instructor to see them from head to toe. A water bottle is encouraged.
In order to keep learners safe while dancing, parents should ensure that learners have access to an open space that is free of obstacles or other hazards. The learner's web camera should be positioned in such a way that the instructor can see the learner from head to toe to assess for safe movement and proper technique. Learners should wear comfortable, supportive clothing and shoes to avoid injury. A water bottle is also highly encouraged for proper hydration. While the dance steps in this class are not overly strenuous, parents should be aware of the risk of injury to learners that can occur if not properly supervised. Specific movements used in this class include but are not limited to balancing on one foot, running in place, and skipping in a circle. If a learner cannot utilize their full range of motion or otherwise requires adaptation to movements, parents should contact the instructor ahead of time to see if this class will be a good fit.
Source material for this class comes primarily from my experience in the world-renowned BYU cultural dance program and the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble, including dance and cultural training from expert professors and choreographers from around the world and my interactions with dancers and locals around the world during performance tours. Additional source material includes: dance and cultural information found in "Recreational Folk Dance" by folk dance experts Susanne J. Davis and Colleen N. West; dance descriptions compiled by folk dance expert Edwin G. Austin; cultural dance information from ums.org (University of Michigan); dance descriptions from folk dance databases such as folkdancecamp.org, folkdancemusings.blogspot.com, and folkdancefootnotes.org; and YouTube videos of professional and/or local dancers or dance groups including P. Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble, Riverdance, and Moiseyev Dance Company.
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(13)
Hi, I’m Laura! In my classes, learners travel the world as they experience cultural dance styles from different countries. My love of dance sprouted when I was 8 years old and took my first Irish dance class. I earned a cultural dance minor from...
Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
40 min
Completed by 10 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
2-6 learners per class
