A Study on Producing Teaching Materials from the Awa Dance, the Traditional Cultural Heritage of Tokushima Prefecture, and its Teaching Method

Abstract

Investigative and practical research was conducted to produce teaching materials for the Awa Dance. Questionnaire results revealed that the Awa Dance is an easy-to-learn folk dance which is rhythmical, lively and joyous, but that it requires specialized knowledge and skills to dance well.It was, therefore, revealed that the Awa Dance is an appropriate dance to be taught in the framework of school education.The items that should be focused on in the teaching of the Awa Dance and their order were next dealt with in practical researches.It was clarified that, for teaching basic skills, getting into one's rhythm is the first thing to be taught.Posture, foot steps, hand movements and coordination of hands and feet should then be covered step by step in that order.The characteristics of male and female dancing should be subsequently introduced, followed by various advanced and applied skills.