Creative Dance for All Ages

By Anne Green Gilbert

Book Overview

Provide quality creative dance experiences for students of all ages and abilities.

With a long history as a leading resource for dance educators, Creative Dance for All Ages, Third Edition, is the research-backed tool every creative dance teacher needs. Internationally recognized master teacher and author Anne Green Gilbert presents creative dance for everyone and provides tips on meeting the challenges of teaching it.

The updated third edition features the following: New full-color photos illustrating key conceptsAn easy-to-navigate format to quickly access lesson planning and assessment toolsSuggestions for modifying lessons to include students of all abilitiesClass management tips to implement on day one

An unparalleled resource for dance educators of all experience levels, Creative Dance for All Ages provides the theory, methods, and lesson ideas that will set teachers up to provide the best possible creative dance experience. Related online tools delivered through HKPropel include a variety of resources that can be implemented in the classroom or studio:

55 age-appropriate and brain-compatible lesson plans 11 videos demonstrating the lesson plans and teaching strategies and how to put them to work in the classroom and studio8 adaptable assessment forms and curriculum planning templates25 music tracks to accompany selected lesson plansSample dance curriculums to systematically cover a 10-week quarter or 16-week semester

Divided into two parts, part I presents the theory behind the conceptual approach to teaching dance. These five chapters include information on how to structure lessons, class management techniques, working with special populations, ways to begin and end class, and creative ways to practice skills. Also covered is the BrainDance, a beneficial exercise that focuses the brain for learning and warms up all parts of the body for dancing. Part II introduces 15 dance concepts (place, level, size, direction, pathway, focus, speed, rhythm, energy, weight, flow, body parts, body shapes, relationship, and balance) and describes hundreds of ways to explore this dance vocabulary using a sequential and progressive five-part lesson plan format.

Step into creative dance with the guidance of a seasoned teacher and feel prepared to help students of all ages and abilities experience the joy of dance with Creative Dance for All Ages, Third Edition.

Human Kinetics is proud to publish this book in association with SHAPE America, the national organization that defines excellence for school-based health and physical education professionals across the United States.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1718236840
• ISBN13: 9781718236844
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 2.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

A must for dance teachers

I recommend this book to all ballet and dance teacher. Great, great, great book. very simple to follow and very well done. Thanks Anne Green Gilbert for sharing all your knowledge and experience with so much generosity. Your work is a great inspiration and help in understanding better creative dance and the way to teach it. Luciano Aimar

A Must for Every Teacher

I have been teaching ballet for many years and have never come across a curriculum like this for an introduction to dance. The book is well written providing you with a clear outline of concepts that are introduced and layered upon through out the year according to what age group you are teaching. It provides examples of class planning, music and props. It is very clear on body alignment, strength and capabilities of the developing child as to not cause harm to their young bodies. [[ASIN:0883145324 Creative Dance for All Ages: A Conceptual Approach] is a must for any school of dance and anyone who teaches young children. The children love the class and the time flies leaving them with wanting more!

A recipe book for classroom teachers of creative dance

This book is the most practical one for teachers of creative dance in the classroom, although it is much more than a classroom tool. "Creative Dance for All Ages" is easy to read, simple to grasp and the lessons almost teach themselves. Gilbert starts you from the basics of movement using vocabulary and concepts simplified from Rudolph von Laban's work in movement analysis. Her methods are generous and joyful, reflecting her passion for giving children (and adults) the experience of dance without fear or feeling threatened. Each chapter focuses on one of the elements of dance (and movement) providing multiple choices for activities in each of her lesson plan components. Her basic lesson plan is sound and safe, divided into 5 main components and progressing from (1) Introduction and warm-up using the dance element, (2) exploring the element, (3) developing dance skills, (4) creating with the element explored and (5) cooling down.If you are a teacher of dance or a teacher in the school system, you will find this book invaluable! Many lesson plans are already laid out for you. Most may be adapted to expand student learning in the academic curriculum. This book is also great for dancers looking to expand their compositional approach. Every teacher will want a copy ready at their teaching fingertips.

A complete guide to teaching creative dance

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in teaching creative dance, whether you have dance experience yourself or not. The book provides a thorough overview of what creative dance is and how to teach it. There are hundreds of dance exercises included, as well as sample lesson plans and useful suggestions for how to structure your classes. As a dance teacher, I have found this book to be the most helpful I've encountered -- I use it constantly!