Nursery World - EYFS Best Practice: All about ... Dance in the early years

Young children's experimentation with movements is linked to what we later recognise as 'dance', say Anne O'Connor and Anna Daly, directors of Primed for Life Training Associates.

Dance is an art form. It can be studied and learned and at a certain level requires technique and skill. Yet, to dance is also instinctively human. Dance expresses feelings, tells stories, demonstrates strength and power, connects people, creates ritual and celebration and, like art and music, it communicates individual and collective experience in a way that words sometimes can't. It is intrinsically linked to our early physical development, as young children experiment with movement responses to the stimulus of the world around them.

The craft and skill of dance includes three main elements:

These three elements are the same whether you are a child in a nursery or a professional dancer. Thinking about dance in the early years through these elements enables us to see not just what is important in early dance, but also how young children's movements and experimentation are linked to what we later recognise as 'dance' in all its different forms.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included