2/11/2026 - Week 5 / Meeting 9: Moving in Pairs and Ensemble


 
 

 

 

Unit: Partnering

Theme: Waltz, Polka, Tango, Salsa

 

I

Introduction

 Dance partnering is dancing performed by two or more dancers that strive to achieve a harmony of coordinated movements. Typically, the technique used for a particular dance style is generally focused on either communication between partners or physical support of one partner by the other

 

II

Learning Objectives 

  • Understand the importance of the relationship in partnering
  • Explain how achieving partnering depends on the harmony of coordinated movements. 
  • Gain awareness of the importance that free-form dances have when deciding and communicating the sequence of figures to be danced.
  • Experience the role of partnering in social dances
  • Reflect on the work done in class


III

Main Lesson

1

Warm Up

Alignment 

Stretching

 

2

Waltz

 https://youtu.be/rz4BJBF4bag?si=UlFUNMBzo09-Ue9e

 https://youtu.be/rz4BJBF4bag?si=UlFUNMBzo09-Ue9e

 

Question 1

After watching the video about, answer:

In which way is the waltz important in developing partnering skills?

 

3

Polka

https://youtu.be/sVnfVUWiBTU?si=WAs27lJb1EKVLWTP 

https://youtu.be/sVnfVUWiBTU?si=WAs27lJb1EKVLWTP 

 

Question 2

After watching the video on Polka dance:

How does the dance aspect of the polka differ from that of the waltz?


4

Tango

https://youtu.be/PSTPuzGhhQM?si=7BPdrPs4qjdqfdts 

https://youtu.be/PSTPuzGhhQM?si=7BPdrPs4qjdqfdts

 

Question 3

Tango was first popular in Argentina and the rest of Latin America, then it traveled to Hollywood and finally went to Europe. Why do you think tango was so popular?

 

5

Salsa

https://youtu.be/C4MAFLeWY7c?si=vuQdzyLmxDrnPGvW 

https://youtu.be/C4MAFLeWY7c?si=vuQdzyLmxDrnPGvW


Question 4

One could say that salsa is the ultimate Latin partner-dance in America. Explain.

6

Read the article

 


Dancing in the Blood: Modern Dance and European Culture on the Eve of the First World War 

Edwards Ross Dickinson

Read: Introduction

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dancing_in_the_Blood/YbMpDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=modern+Dance&printsec=frontcover 

Ross Dickinson, Edwards (2017).  Dancing kn the Blood. Cambridge University Press

 

Question 5

Summarize the Introduction 

 

IV

A Note to Remember

 Forms such as Contact improvisation  and Fusion dance have troubled the traditional partnering dynamic.

 

V

Case Studies

Fusion 

 https://fb.watch/x-JhEm7ZWf/

 

VI

Activity

Choreograph a fusion of the dances covered today by creating an 8 moves phrase.

 

VII

Journaling 


VIII

Glossary 


IX

Sources

 

X

Students' Work
 
 
 
 
 

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