Dance Coding

Objectives

• Create an algorithm using a code to represent dance moves that someone else can understand.

Materials

• Dance Code Cards – can be drawn or printed

• Scissors

• Paper and pencil

• Lots of space!

• A buddy

Key Questions

• Did you have any miscommunication with your buddy? This is called a bug! How did you fix the bug in your code?
• What do you need to remember when writing a dance code for a buddy to dance?
• How do we give instructions to computers and technology?

What To Do

1. Prepare dance symbol cards by printing out the attachment in the materials list or by drawing your own pictures.
2. Create a dance algorithm with 16 steps using the symbol cards you’ve made or printed by laying out cards in the order you want them performed.
3. Trade codes with a buddy and test out each other’s codes. Make sure you watch them perform your dance to see how it compares to what you planned!

Extensions

• In coding, we use a loop when we want to repeat some steps. Add a loop somewhere in your dance code. How could you communicate this loop?
• How could you alter your dance code algorithm if you wanted your dancer to do two steps at once? (For example, jump and turn?)

Other Resources

Take your dance coding one step further and program characters on your computer to dance with block code at https://code.org/dance