Bring Abstract Expressionism to Life in Dance Class with "Convergence" by Jackson Pollock

Looking for a creative and meaningful way to blend visual art and dance? This lesson inspired by Jackson Pollock’s 1952 painting Convergence is a fun, high-energy way to help your dancers create, perform, respond, and connect—while exploring big movement ideas like pathways, levels, and group collaboration.

Pollock’s famous painting is a swirl of energy—splashes, drips, and bold colors colliding on the canvas. It’s the perfect springboard for improvisation and choreography.

Step 1: Observe and Connect

Begin by showing students the artwork and giving them a few quiet moments to look. Ask questions like:

• “What kinds of lines and shapes do you see?”

• “Where do your eyes want to travel on the canvas?”

• “If this painting could move, what would it do?”

Encourage a mix of verbal responses and gestures. This sets the tone for making art-to-movement connections and helps students see themselves as interpreters of art—not just dancers following steps.

Step 2: Explore Pathways and Levels

Use a quick warm-up to get dancers moving like the lines in the painting. Scatter warm-up cards around the space with prompts like:

• “Travel in a zig-zag pathway”

• “Melt to the floor and rise back up”

• “Swirl like dripping paint”

Students move from card to card, exploring different ideas while staying aware of their surroundings—just like Pollock layered movement across the canvas.

Step 3: Create Group Dances

Split the class into small groups and challenge them to create a short dance inspired by Convergence. Encourage each group to use:

• Pathways (straight, curved, spiral, diagonal)

• Levels (high, middle, low)

• A moment of “collision” or convergence where all their movement ideas meet

Give them time to rehearse, refine, and choose a starting and ending shape before performing for the class.

Step 4: Perform and Reflect

Groups perform their dances while the audience observes. Afterward, guide a short discussion about what they noticed in each performance—focusing on how movement choices reflected elements of the painting.

🖍️ Free Printables to Support Your Lesson

To make planning easier, we’ve created a free set of visual aids and worksheets to go with this lesson. They includes:

• A picture of the artwork

• An information page about the painting

• A student worksheet for the “Connect” portion of class

• Warm-up cards to inspire movement

• A peer feedback worksheet to support thoughtful discussion

These printables make it simple to bring art analysis, creative movement, and performance together in a cohesive and inspiring way. Just enter your email in the box below, and we will send all these ideas straight to your email.

By the end of this lesson, your dancers will have experienced art through their bodies, collaborated with their peers, and gained a deeper appreciation for the power of abstract movement. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Happy Dancing!

-Whitney