Grade 8 Fine Arts Colorado Standards

Movement, Technique, and Performance

Demonstrate intermediate dance technique, vocabulary, and skill in various styles with a range of dynamics and emerging artistic expression.

Refine kinesthetic alignment to demonstrate appropriate and safe dance technique.

Apply the qualities required for dynamic expression in movement.

Perform movement sequences with clarity of movement, attention to detail and artistic expression.

Demonstrate alignment and control while moving.

Apply body self-awareness to safe body movement.

Examine how healthful strategies (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention, emotional health, overall functioning) and safe body-use practices are essential for the dancer.

Examine how kinesthetic principles and various body systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal) relate to the dancing body.

Maintain organization and self-awareness of the body while moving (e.g., balance, coordination, flexibility, alignment, core strength).

Explore movement that develops a wide range of motion, muscular flexibility, strength, and endurance. Explore different body conditioning techniques.

Perform dances that communicate a specific intent and identify production elements that enhance performance.

Collaborate to refine dances and clearly communicate intent.

Adapt to and communicate about varying performance areas.

Identify and define various roles within a dance production.

Create, Compose, and Choreograph

Compare a variety of stimuli to expand movement vocabulary and artistic expression through improvisational movement.

Apply movement in various combinations.

Apply basic improvisational skills and techniques.

Identify reasons for movement and structural choices.

Adapt ideas to fit the needs of their group and community.

Create, Compose, and Choreograph

Create, refine, and perform dance studies which demonstrate clarity of artistic intent.

Utilize multiple movement sequences with a variety of choreographic forms and techniques.

Compare and articulate the creative choices made in choreography.

Historical and Cultural Context

Identify, demonstrate, and arrange movements and terminology consistent with various eras and cultures.

Observe and describe movements from various cultures and eras using existing knowledge.

Identify and perform movements specific to various cultures and eras.

Use era and culturally specific themes and movements in creating sequences.

Identify, with supporting evidence, historical and cultural aspects of dance.

Research historical contexts which contributed to the development of different dance styles.

Discuss movement characteristics or movement qualities in a specific era or culture.

Identify and discuss dances performed by people in various localities or communities.

Reflect, Connect, and Respond

Interpret meaning in dance created by self and others.

Critique self and peers’ application of stimuli, various choreographic forms, clarity of intent and artistic expression.

Compare and contrast the use of movement and choreographic structure to convey intent and meaning.

Describe specific differences and similarities among genres and artists.

Compare and contrast dance with other art forms, school subjects, professions, and the community.

Analyze the relationships between subjects such as music, visual art, language arts, math, science, and others with dance.

Analyze the similarities and differences between subjects such as music, visual art, language arts, math, science, and others with dance.

Analyze the impact of dance within individual communities.

Movement, Technique, and Performance

Demonstrate dance technique, vocabulary, and skill in various styles with proficiency and artistic expression.

Use the broadest range of movement and vocabulary possible for artistic and expressive clarity.

Demonstrate phrasing with and without musical accompaniment using multiple and complex rhythms or sounds.

Confidently perform alone and with others to establish intentional relationships with dancers and the environment.

Apply and evaluate kinesthetic awareness to create healthful practices in dance.

Research healthful strategies essential for dancers and modify personal practice based on findings.

Investigate how kinesthetic principles and various body systems, such as muscles and bones, relate to the dancing body.

Maintain optimal alignment and adjust the placement and shifting energy of the body while traveling through space.

Develop personal conditioning practices, using different body conditioning techniques, that improve range of motion, muscular flexibility, strength, and endurance to enhance performance.

Apply body-mind principles to technical dance skills in complex movement.

Create and implement production strategies that correlate with performance intention.

Analyze and re-evaluate personal goals to enhance performance strategies and practices.

Create designs for the production of a performance while selecting and executing the ideas that would intensify and heighten the intent of the dances.

Demonstrate leadership qualities (for example commitment, dependability, responsibility, and cooperation) when preparing for performances.

Model performance etiquette and performance practices during class, rehearsal, and performance.

Create, Compose, and Choreograph

Apply and analyze movement to explore personal preferences and possibilities through improvisation.

Use improvisation tools to develop new pathways to creating and communicating.

Apply advanced improvisational skills and techniques.

Evaluate and refine personal preferences and possibilities for movement.

Adapt ideas to fit the needs of their group and community.

Demonstrate fluency in creative processes both independently and with a group.

Refine and transform choreography collaboratively or independently based on artistic criteria, self-reflection, and the feedback of others.

Develop creative process strategies that consider complex relationships of movement components and/or diverse choreographic sources for a dance composition.

Analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the impact of choices made during the revision process to deepen the intention of the choreography.

Historical and Cultural Context

Compose, perform, and critique dance works that are era or culturally specific.

Discuss, embody, and describe dance technique and movement vocabulary specific to a culture.

Recognize one’s own cultural, personal, and historical biases when analyzing dance from a culture different from one’s own.

Identify commonalities and differences in dance technique and vocabulary across cultures.

Create a dance using historically and culturally specific movements.

Draw connections between cultures and eras through dance research.

Compare and synthesize contrasting viewpoints and identify the tensions between them.

Analyze dance as a reflection of culture and society.

Reflect, Connect, and Respond

Critique, analyze, reflect upon, and understand dance using applicable technique and vocabulary.

Analyze dances using appropriate language of movement, technical terminology, and critical response.

Articulate personal connections to a dance.

Critique the structure, technique, and choreographic intent of a dance.

Analyze and demonstrate the connections between other art forms, school subjects, professions, and community roles with dance.

Analyze and synthesize the use of school subjects such as music, visual art, language arts, math, science, and others and in dance.

Discover and analyze career opportunities integrating dance with the surrounding communities.

Demonstrate and articulate how communities and dance impact each other

Movement, Technique, and Performance

Demonstrate developing dance technique, vocabulary and skills in various styles while displaying a wide range of movement dynamics and exploring artistic expression.

Use focus of eyes while demonstrating a range of movement and vocabulary.

Perform dance phrases of different lengths that use various tempos and rhythms.

Embody technical dance skills to explore artistic expression.

Perform movements in relation to other dancers, objects, and environment.

Embody alignment and control while moving.

Examine how healthful strategies (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention, emotional health, overall functioning) and safe body-use practices are essential for the dancer.

Examine how kinesthetic principles and various body systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal) relate to the dancing body.

Maintain organization and self-awareness of the body while moving (e.g., balance, coordination, flexibility, alignment, core strength).

Explore movement that develops a wide range of motion, muscular flexibility, strength, and endurance. Explore different body conditioning techniques.

Identify and explore production strategies that correlate with performance intention.

Articulate personal performance goals and practice to reach goals.

Collaborate with peers to enhance dance choreography and performance.

Apply production terminology and collaborate to design and execute production elements that contribute to the artistic intent of a dance performance.

Create, Compose, and Choreograph

Use contrasting stimuli to develop artistic expression through improvisational movement.

Arrange movement to convey artistic intent.

Apply intermediate improvisational skills and techniques.

Select and justify personal preferences for movement and structural choices.

Adapt ideas to fit the needs of their group and community.

Exploring different creative processes both independently and with a group that shows intent.

Implement movement from a variety of stimuli to develop an original piece of choreography.

Articulate the creative process used for making choreography.

Revise choreography collaboratively or independently based on artistic criteria, self-reflection, and the feedback of others.

Historical and Cultural Context

Arrange, demonstrate, and critique era and culturally specific movement sequences.

Discuss, embody, and describe dance technique and movement vocabulary specific to a culture.

Communicate how dances from a variety of cultures, societies, historical periods, or communities reveal the ideas and perspectives of people.

Use era and culturally specific themes and movements in creating sequences.

Recognize one’s own cultural, personal, and historical biases when analyzing dance from a culture different from one’s own.

Identify, with supporting evidence, historical and cultural aspects of two or more dance forms.

Analyze and discuss how dances from a variety of cultures, societies, historical periods, or communities reveal the ideas and perspectives of the people.

Formulate possible reasons why similarities and differences in movement are developed in relation to the ideas and perspectives of the people.

Reflect, Connect, and Respond

Reflect upon the meaning of dance created by others and explain the intent of dance created by oneself.

Respond to dances using appropriate dance language.

Explain how artistic expression is achieved through relationships between movement, dance technique and context.

Cite evidence in the dance to support their interpretations using dance terminology.

Identify the choreographic structure, cultural origin, and technique of the dance viewed.

Identify how other art forms, school subjects, professions, and community roles are used in dance.

Demonstrate the use of school subjects such as music, visual art, language arts, math, science, and others and in dance.

Investigate career opportunities in dance.

Predict how dance impacts communities.

Movement, Technique, and Performance

Demonstrate developing dance technique, vocabulary, and skills in various styles with emerging artistic expression.

Use a range of movement and vocabulary to demonstrate artistic expression.

Demonstrate phrasing with and without musical accompaniment using various rhythms and sounds.

Perform with others to establish relationships with dancers and the environment.

Identify and apply anatomical principles and healthful practices to a range of technical dance skills.

Evaluate and apply healthful strategies (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention, emotional health, overall functioning) and safe body-use practices that are essential for the dancer.

Demonstrate anatomical terms (e.g., muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joint articulations) as they relate to dance. Apply kinesthetic principles and various body systems.

Demonstrate body coordination while moving (e.g., balance, coordination, flexibility, alignment, core strength).

Explore movement that develops a wide range of motion, muscular flexibility, strength, and endurance. Explore different body conditioning techniques.

Develop production strategies that correlate with performance intention.

Create and apply personal goals to enhance performance strategies and practices.

Collaborate with peers on rehearsal processes.

Evaluate possible designs for the production elements of a performance and select and execute the ideas that would intensify and heighten the artistic intent of the dances.

Model performance etiquette and performance practices during class, rehearsal, and performance.

Create, Compose, and Choreograph

Experiment with movement to explore personal preferences and possibilities through improvisation.

Investigate individual connections with movement.

Apply intermediate/advanced improvisational skills and techniques.

Evaluate personal preferences and possibilities for movement.

Adapt ideas to fit the needs of their group and community.

Demonstrate creative processes both independently and with a group.

Refine choreography collaboratively or independently based on artistic criteria, self-reflection, and the feedback of others.

Analyze the process and the relationship between the stimuli and the movement.

Analyze and evaluate impact of choices made in the revision process.

Historical and Cultural Context

Arrange, perform, and critique era and culturally specific movement sequences.

Discuss, embody, and describe dance technique and movement vocabulary specific to a culture.

Recognize one’s own cultural, personal, and historical biases when analyzing dance from a culture different from one’s own.

Identify commonalities and differences in dance technique and vocabulary across cultures.

Use era and culturally specific themes and movements in creating sequences.

Research and differentiate cultural and historical dance forms and traditions.

Compare and contrast dance from different cultures across time.

Analyze cultural traditions and historical eras as represented through dance.

Reflect, Connect, and Respond

Critique and respond to dance with awareness of vocabulary and technique.

Respond to dances using appropriate language of movement and technical terminology.

Reflect on personal connections to the dance.

Analyze the structure, technique, and choreographic intent of the dance viewed.

Demonstrate the connections between other art forms, school subjects, professions, and community roles with dance.

Integrate the use of school subjects such as music, visual art, language arts, math, science, and others and in dance.

Investigate career opportunities integrating dance with the surrounding communities.

Articulate connections between dance and their social activities and communities.

Create

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

Imagine and explore multiple perspectives and solutions to staging problems in a drama/theatre work.

Imagine and explore possible solutions to design challenges of a performance space in a drama/theatre work.

Develop a scripted or improvised character by articulating the character’s inner thoughts, objectives, and motivations in a drama/theatre work.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

Articulate and apply background knowledge, research, historical, and cultural context to the development of original ideas for a drama/theatre work.

Share leadership and responsibilities to develop collaborative goals when preparing or devising drama/theatre work.

Connect artistic ideas to personal experience and varied perspectives.

Examine and analyze community issue through multiple perspectives in a drama/theatre work.

Identify and use research and design choices in a drama/theatre work to enhance the work.

Refine towards completion of artistic work.

Use repetition and analysis in order to revise devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Refine effective physical, vocal, and physiological traits of characters in an improvised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Implement and refine a planned technical design using simple technology during the rehearsal process for devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Perform

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.

Explore different pacing to better communicate the story in a drama/theatre work.

Apply and justify various character objectives and tactics in a drama/theatre work to overcome an obstacle.

Develop and refine artistic techniques, choices, and work for presentation.

Develop a variety of acting techniques to increase skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.

Implement a variety of technical elements to create a design for a rehearsal or drama/theater production.

Connect artistic work with audience, community, and ensemble.

Identify universal themes or common social issues and express them through a drama/theatre work.

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.

Perform/present a rehearsed/designed drama/theatre work for an audience.

Critically Respond

Perceive and analyze artistic work.

Apply criteria to analyze artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.

Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.

Summarize and share artistic choices when participating in or observing a drama/theatre work.

Analyze how cultural perspectives influence the evaluation of a drama/theatre work.

Apply personal aesthetics, preferences, and beliefs to evaluate a drama/theatre work.

Connect artistic experiences to our world; past, present, and future.

Research and discuss the playwright’s intent for a drama/theatre work.

Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.

Critique a drama/theatre work using supporting evidence, personal aesthetics, and artistic criteria.

Analyze the production elements used in a drama/theatre work to assess aesthetic choices.

Assess the impact of a drama/theatre work on a specific audience.

Observe and Learn to Comprehend

Interpret works of art using the language of visual art and design and conceptual art frameworks.

Present works of art using the language of visual art and design to infer meaning.

Describe and justify the specific elements in a work of art using the language of visual art and design.

Investigate and debate conceptual frameworks that give value to works of art.

Envision and Critique to Reflect

Synthesize and evaluate how time, culture and artistic style relates to contemporary art concerns.

Utilize visual literacy skills to establish personal meaning and interpret the artistic intent of others.

Connect ideas or concepts in a work of art to their visual elements.

Analyze and explain the impact of persuasive techniques in print and in electronic media.

Develop a statement of purpose for a work of art in written, verbal or digital format.

Analyze, interpret and make informed judgments about works of art using different points of view.

Research and discuss belief systems used to value works of art.

Interpret artistic styles, trends and movements in various contexts.

Defend the value of a work of art utilizing comparisons to works of art from other times and places.

Incorporate personal life experiences through aesthetic responses to works of art.

Justify and infer how art often is defined by its originality.

Interpret changes in meaning over time in the perception of a familiar work of art.

Investigate and discuss how social and political environments influence an artist’s creative process in making a work of art.

Examine and discuss the reasons to respect and avoid replication and interpretation of culturally sensitive taboos.

Invent and Discover to Create

Apply key concepts, issues and themes of the visual arts to solve problems using real-world applications.

Employ feedback, planning and ideation processes to develop artistic voice.

Collect feedback, ideas and inspirations from multiple sources to create personal works of art.

Demonstrate personal responsibility in the planning, implementation and evaluation of works of art.

Create works of art that depict personal viewpoints while honoring sensitive topics.

Demonstrate technical proficiency and craftsmanship in the creative process.

Create works of art with attention to technique and craft.

Create works of art with preferred techniques that advance intended purpose and are display-ready.

Investigate the unique qualities of various media to achieve desired results.

Utilize current and available technology to refine an idea and create original and imaginative works of art.

Utilize current and available technologies to explore multiple ways to communicate an idea visually.

Communicate complex ideas through works of art and design produced with new technologies.

Produce individual or group works of art that incorporate various multidisciplinary key concepts, issues and themes to solve visual problems.

Communicate ideas visually through various media, methods, styles and perspectives.

Relate and Connect to Transfer

Interpret the ways individual makers become agents that express the interdependent relationship between art, culture and social contexts.

Investigate and analyze the role of the maker in specific arts traditions.

Compare how various cultures and communities honor, memorialize and celebrate life events.

Recognize and discuss how works of art previously created across time and cultures can influence the work of practicing artists today.

Discern and articulate the impact arts, design and creativity have on a variety of lifelong endeavors.

Develop personal agency and critical thinking skills that can be transferred to lifelong endeavors.

Identify arts resources and opportunities that exist in the community and explain why they are valued.

Explore and evaluate ways that artistic thinking is used to solve problems.

Demonstrate an understanding that art can be a vehicle for social change.

Research and explain a work of art that aims to create social change in a specific community such as but not limited to The Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell, the Migration series by Jacob Lawrence, Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, RUSH MORE by Kerry James Marshall or works by street artists such as Banksy.

Create and display a work of art that persuades the viewer to take action as a participant in a democratic society.