Philosophy
Because there is a natural link between a child’s spontaneous movement experience and her ability to communicate and problem solve creatively, dance is an integral part of the learning experience at Greenwich Academy. The Lower School dance program strives to help each child grow in physical ability and self confidence so that she can experience the exhilaration and satisfaction of expressing herself creatively. In addition dance helps a child's self awareness physically, emotionally and creatively, helps her in assimilating new works and concepts through movement experience, promotes teamwork and cooperation and encourages discovery through movement exploration.

Through dance education, students also can come to an understanding of their own culture and begin to respect dance as a part of the heritage of many cultures. As they learn and share dances from around the globe, as well as from their own communities, children gain skills and knowledge that will help them participate in a diverse society.

Overall Curriculum based on the National Standards for Dance Education
1. Identify and demonstrate movement elements and skills in performing dance.
2. Understand choreographic principles, process, and structures.
3. Understand dance in a way as to create and communicate meaning.
4. Apply and demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in dance.
5. Demonstrate and understand dance in various cultures and historical periods.
6. Make connections between dance and healthful living.
7. Make connections between dance and other disciplines.

PC-Group I
Curriculum emphasizes exploration of the elements of dance (space, time and energy), relationships to one another and the world around them. They are provided with dance experiences that integrate with the other arts, language arts, mathematics, children's literature, social studies, science and community. Children have kinesthetic experiences such as learning to make letters, patterns, numbers and shapes with their bodies as well as learning to cooperate through dance.

Group II-Group IV
Curriculum provides the students with opportunities to create, observe and respond to dance. Activities include solving problems, learning the elements of dance and choreography, improvising and composing dance studies and learning cultural dances. They develop a basic understanding of dance history and the ways in which dance relates to other disciplines in the curriculum. The girls also concentrate on the technical skills that increase flexibility, strength and coordination.

Dance Around Day Performance
During the year the girls perform for one another and at some assemblies. However, the program culminates in April with an all-Lower-School dance concert. Each class choreographs and performs a piece showing what they have learned during the year.

Charter Day Maypole Dances
Group IV has the honor of participating in Charter Day by performing a series of Maypole dances that have become a tradition at Greenwich Academy.