- Definition
A prop is an object a dancer uses, like a scarf or a hat, to make their performance more interesting or to help them tell a story with their movements.
A dancer using a long ribbon to make swirling patterns in the air is using it as a prop.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A prop is like a special toy you use when you're pretending, like a wand for a fairy or a cape for a superhero.
Ask your child: What object could you dance with to tell a story?
Common mix-up: Kids might think a prop is just something to hold. A prop is actually part of the dance, used to help tell the story or make the movements bigger.
Examples
- Dancers using hats and canes in a musical number.
- Waving a scarf while dancing to show the wind blowing.
- Using a chair to dance on, around, and with.
prop is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
