Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater - Cal Performances - University ...

Dance (Grades K-12)
Reflection on Revelations
Immediately after seeing the performances of Saddle Up! and Revelations, ask students
to remember movements and gestures. With the students arranged in a circle, ask
each one to copy a movement they saw in the performance. Students can work in pairs,
showing a movement from a duet. Additionally, students may draw movements they
remember in abstract or representational form. After seeing all the movements, ask
students to share what they think some of these movements or gestures represent in
terms of ideas or emotions.
Class Discussion
1. What do you think the dances Revelations and Saddle Up! are about? How did
movement, costume, music and lighting convey the meaning of the dances?
2. Dance is the language of the body. Discuss this statement. Would you consider
dance a universal language? Can you give examples of how you understand other
people’s intentions and messages through their movements? How can you tell if
someone is really nervous, happy, or angry? Have you seen anyone who seems
frightening just from their body language? What kinds of movements are welcoming
gestures?
Art and Literacy (Grades K-12)
Draw a Picture!
What did you see when you went to the theater?
What do you remember about the artists, the stage,
the lights, the costumes, the audience? Was there
something that was particularly interesting to you?
Challenge: The photo on the left shows movement
by capturing a dancer, Matthew Rushing, in the air. How can you show movement in a
drawing? We’d love to see it!
The Picture Tells A Story
The photo on the right is from the “Wade in
the Water” section of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations.
Remember the performance, and then tell the story.
Who are the characters? What are they doing? Were
there other characters in this section? What was the
music like? Did this scene remind you of something
in your own experience?
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