Dance and Drama
Primary 2 · Creative Arts
Dance and Drama
Lesson 2 of 3
12 min
Let's begin
It is dark. Gatete is telling his little sister a story. He drops his voice down low: “Who is walking in my forest?”
She screams — then she laughs and laughs. “Again! Do the lion again!”
Gatete was acting. Today you will learn how he did it.
Here is one short line: “Where is my goat?”
Mutesi can say those same four words in three completely different ways. Try each one out loud. Really do it — nobody is watching.
| Mutesi is… | Her voice | Her face | Her body |
|---|---|---|---|
| worried | small, quick, shaky | eyebrows pulled together, eyes wide | hands on her cheeks, looking left and right |
| angry | hard, loud, slow | eyebrows pushed down, lips pressed tight | hands on her hips, one foot stamping |
| joking | bright and sing-song | one eyebrow up, half a smile | shoulders lifted, hands open |
Same four words. Three different Mutesis. That is acting.
An actor has three tools: your voice, your face and your gestures. Let us pick them up one at a time.
Your voice can change in three ways. Say the word “hello” six times and hear it:
Now mix them to build a person:
| Who you are | How your voice sounds |
|---|---|
| an old grandfather | slow, low and a little shaky |
| a small excited child | quick, high and bouncy |
| a lion | low and rumbling, very slow |
| someone telling a secret | soft — but still clear |
Careful! Even when your character whispers, the person at the back must hear every word. Actors do a loud whisper. Try it: whisper “come here” so someone across the room could hear you.
Your face tells the feeling before you say a single word.
| Feeling | What your face does |
|---|---|
| happy | mouth curves up, eyes shine |
| sad | corners of the mouth drop, eyes look down |
| angry | eyebrows squeeze down, jaw tight |
| scared | eyes wide open, mouth open a little |
| surprised | eyebrows jump up high |
Go and make all five faces at a mirror, or at a dark window, or at your brother. Make them big. On a stage, a small face says nothing at all.
A gesture is a word you say with your body.
| What you mean | Your gesture |
|---|---|
| come here | wave your hand in towards yourself |
| go away | push your open palm out |
| I don’t know | lift both shoulders, open your hands |
| I am tired | shoulders drop, feet drag |
| stop! | hold one flat palm up |
Do each one now, without saying anything. See? People understood you, and your mouth never opened.
Here is a tiny play: Mutesi and the Lost Goat. You can act every part yourself. Stand up and go through it scene by scene.
| Scene | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morning. Mutesi feeds her goat. | Smile. Hum a little song. Pat the goat’s head. Voice light and happy. |
| 2 | She comes back. The rope is empty! | Eyes wide, mouth open. Freeze for two whole seconds. Then: “My goat is gone!” — loud and shocked. |
| 3 | She searches everywhere. | Hand above your eyes, looking far. Walk in a circle. Call out long and slow: “Where aaaare you?” |
| 4 | A small sound. The goat is behind the bananas — eating the neighbour’s beans! | Hands fly to your cheeks. Then laugh. Hug the goat. Freeze on the hug and hold it. The end. |
Did you notice scene 2? Mutesi’s face went shocked before she said one word.
Rule: Show it, then say it. The feeling goes on your face and into your body first. The words come out afterwards — and they come out sounding right all by themselves.
Keep your face towards the people watching. Even when you talk to another actor, stand a bit side-on. Never turn your back. Your face is the story.
Hold the last picture. At the end, freeze and stay still for three seconds. That is how the audience knows the story is finished, and that is when they clap.
Tip
Feel it on your face first
Before any line, ask yourself one question: how does this person feel right now?
Put that feeling on your face. Then open your mouth. Your voice will follow your face — it always does.
Say every one of these out loud. Thinking it is not acting!
Say “Come and see!” like you are excited. Now say it like you are frightened.
Answer: Excited — fast, loud, high; big smile; hand waving people in. Frightened — quiet and shaky; eyes wide; hand pulling at someone’s arm. Same three words, two stories.
Act an old man carrying a heavy sack of beans. What does your body do?
Answer: Back bent. Shoulders low. Small slow steps. One hand rubbing your back. If you speak, your voice is slow and low.
Show “I don’t know” without using any words at all.
Answer: Lift both shoulders up. Open your hands, palms up. Pull your mouth to one side. Everybody understands.
You are acting with a friend. She is standing behind you. Should you turn right around to face her?
Answer: No. Turn only halfway, so you stand side-on. Keep your face where the audience can see it. Never give them your back.
Someone makes this face: eyes wide open, mouth open a little, both hands up in front of her. What feeling is it?
Answer: Scared. Wide eyes and an open mouth make the scared face, and the hands come up to hide behind. Surprised looks close to it — but in a surprised face the eyebrows jump up high. Watch the eyebrows and you will always tell those two apart.
Act out Mutesi and the Lost Goat for someone at home. All four scenes, all by yourself.
Answer: If they knew how Mutesi felt in every scene, you acted it well.
What you learned today
Quick check
Match each feeling to the face.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
