Learn Together
Observing, replicating and creating dance helps children understand dance as a legacy of expression in every culture.
Learn more about Kanu Dance Theater and dances of Haiti: https://youtu.be/Pn-0O6XUi0gW
Watch other dances by Kanu Dance Theater: https://youtu.be/BXMPC8TW-SM
Materials
- Smartphone
- Tablet or laptop
- Access to videos of animals from the internet or pictures from children’s books
Dance Together
- Watch the full video Dance Tutorial “Let’s Dance! – KaNu Dance Theater: Yanvalou Dance” here or on CMOM’s YouTube channel.
- Watch it again. This time follow Kanu dancer, choreographer, and artistic director Jessica St. Vil to learn the parts of the dance.
- Learn this dance together as a family, then have each family member try the dance on their own.
- This traditional dance from Haiti is called Yanvalou and is inspired by the movement of a snake. Look up videos of animals or find pictures of animals in your children’s books. How do they move? Copy the animal movements with your body.
- Create your own dance movements inspired by the animals you explored.
- Have everyone in the family pick an animal to create their own animal dance move.
- Teach each other your unique animal dance moves.
- Put all your movements together to create a new family animal dance.
- Try adding the dance you learned from Kanu’s video together with your new animal dance. Try it fast, try it slow and try with different kinds of music!