The wonderful John Feierabend has a series of DVDs called Move It! which - if you haven't already heard of them - you should definitely check out!
Each DVD contains both an audio CD and a DVD with John & collaborator Peggy Lyman performing choreographed movements to a wide variety of art music pieces in a way which promotes graceful, artful movement and a deeper understanding of musical features such as form.
The DVD shows a number of people performing the "Move-Its" to music and also comes with a booklet describing each movement section if you would prefer to teach it yourself.
Some people have even recorded themselves performing these Move-Its and uploaded them to YouTube!
You can take a look at a sample track (set to the Aquarium from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals") below:
These resources are great as they give guided video tracks for children to follow - which is a blessing if you're a less-than-confident dance teacher. They are also an excellent activity to leave when you have a substitute teacher taking your class and you're not sure of their musical/dance background. The videos do all the work!
These DVDs also expose children to a wide variety of classical master works (and also a wide range of music from other styles too) - just take a look at the repertoire list from the 2nd DVD:
Bizet: Marche du Toreador;
Bizet: Prelude, L’Arlesiene Suite No. 1 (Theme and Variations);
Gliere: Russian Sailor Dance;
Schuman: Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (No. 1 Of Foreign Lands and People);
Beethoven: Ecossaises WoO 83;
Fauré: Sicilienne;
Boccherini: String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11 No. 5 III Minueto;
Gossec: Tambourin;
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, III, Menuetto: Allegretto(Serenade No. 13 in G Major) K525; Brahms: Hungarian Dances No. 5;
Cowell: Quartet for Flute, Oboe, Cello and Harpsichord, III, Allegro Moderato;
The Little Grassicals: Bluegrass;
Chopin: Waltz in G-flat Major, Op. 70 No. 1;
Bach: Partita No. 3 in E Major BWV 1006, Gavotte and Rondeau;
Greig: Holberg Suite, Op. 40, Prelude;
Beethoven: Menuet in C Major;
Beethoven: Rondo in C Major WoO 48;
Gounod: Funeral March of a Marionette.
They are an excellent for teaching form & structure as well as aiming for excellence in dance technique.
You can purchase these DVDs through the GIA publications website.
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