9THE NEW VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOL © THE NEW 42ND STREET, INC.

before | CUBA VIBRA!

COMMON CORE STANDARDSWriting: 4Speaking and Listening: 1; 2; 5; 6Language: 1; 3; 6

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDSThe Arts: 1; 4ELA: 1; 4

BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTSDance: Dance Making; Developing Dance Literacy; Making Connections

This section is part of a full New Victory® School toolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education Department check out: NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS

INSIDE BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

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Ready-to-implement classroom activities that explore the themes and artistry of the show.

ACTIVITY: DANCE THE CHA-CHA-CHA!Materials: Downloaded music, a music playing device

Before the Lesson:Download one of these three versions (or all three!) of the song “Sway”“Sway” - Zavier Cugat“Sway” - Michael Buble“Sway” - Pussycat Dolls

Also, watch this Cha-Cha video clip, “4 Basic Elements of Cha-Cha”from Dance in Times Square https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWiLi22Cq8w

1. Ask your students what they know about the cha-cha-cha. Encourage them to think about what the name of the dance says about its style.

2. Tell your students that they are going to learn a basic cha-cha-cha! They will see moves like these when they go to The New Victory Theater for CUBA VIBRA!

3. Get your students on their feet and make sure that they have enough room to do a few simple dance movements.4. Teach your students the first movement for the cha-cha-cha, which is just walking. Have your students walk

forward three steps, and then back three steps. Practice doing this all together.

5. Teach the next step, which is to the side. Have your students move to the right first, stepping to the side with their right foot, bringing their left foot to meet it, stepping to the same side again, bringing both feet together again. Then, taking one more step to the right. Next, have your students switch directions, this time moving to the left!

• As the class practices the dance say, “side, together, side, together, side and switch” (to the right).• Switch directions to the left: “side, together, side, together, side.”

6. Finally, have your students learn the rock step. This is when they place one of their feet behind them (not too far) and put the weight on the ball of that foot. They then shift their weight back to the front foot. Have students practice this “rocking” motion with both feet!

7. Put it all together! Have your students play with all of the steps, finding a way to add arms that work with the motion.

8. Turn on the song “Sway” and have your students continue to explore these steps. 9. Get your students into groups of 3 or 4 and have them play with combining all the steps in a fun way that works

with the song.

10. Present these small dances! REFLECTION QUESTIONSHow would you describe the movement of the cha-cha-cha?How did the dance steps change for you when we added the music?What surprised you about your classmates’ dances?

10THE NEW VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS © THE NEW 42ND STREET, INC.

INSIDE BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

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before | CUBA VIBRA!

BE A PART OF YOUR KID'S FIELD TRIP!®

WATCH

• Check out the video trailer and a message from the company! NewVictory.org

• While you're there, do the suggested Family Activities to learn more about the show. NewVictory.org/FamilyActivities

ASK

Ask your kid BEFORE the show: • What do you imagine you will see on stage at CUBA VIBRA!?• What are you most excited about for your trip to 42nd Street?

Ask your kid AFTER the show: • What was your favorite part of seeing CUBA VIBRA!?• Which songs and dances did you enjoy most in the show?• How was CUBA VIBRA! different from other shows you’ve seen?

VISIT

The New Vic is New York City’s only performing arts theater exclusively devoted to kids, their families and classmates—

bringing exhilarating stories, innovative art forms and unparalleled performers from around the world to our

historic stage in Times Square. For a full list of shows in the New Vic’s 2015-16 season, visit NewVictory.org.

CREATIVITYPAGE®

Look at the four images of daily life in Cuba below. What do you notice? What thoughts and feelings does this image evoke for you? Write one or more words that come to mind when you look at each image.

Now, use the words you wrote about the images and assemble them into a poem about Cuba.The poem can be simple, using just your words, or it can be more elaborate and descriptive. Your choice!

Give it a Thought: If this poem were a dance, what would it look like? Explore putting your poem on its feet!

IMAGE INSPIRATIONIMAGE INSPIRATION