You can do the hand jive standing or seated and you don't need seats in any particular configuration, and you also don't need partners.

I organized the dance program for the World Science Fiction Convention last year and among Susan's program items was a hand jive session, which did get some mobility-impaired participants, who enjoyed it.

Here are posts on her (highly-recommended for vintage and historical dance) blog, Capering & KIckery, describing how to do it and including some video.  (At least one of them played "Willie and the Hand Jive" without my asking it to, so maybe don't click these links at work unless you have the volume way down.

https://www.kickery.com/2010/11/hand-jive-basics.html

https://www.kickery.com/2012/01/hand-jive-style-three-tons-of-joy.html

https://www.kickery.com/2012/01/hand-jive-style-clapping-it-out.html

This is not exactly typical family dance material but clapping and rhythm games are definitely things kids get exposed to, so I don't think this would be terribly out of place.

I have a private family dance gig with a church this weekend. In our touching base just now, the contact brought up a request to include some material that would be amenable to a couple of folks who wish to participate but have mobility issues.

I'm seeking further detail from them to know the scope of the challenges but thought I'd reach out to see how others have dealt with similar situations. In my normal calling for family events, I'll often mention alternative moves for folks who don't bend as well as they used to, etc. but I'm guessing the needs here may be more significant.

Do you have any particular material you'd use within an otherwise standard family/community dance context to suit mobility challenges? I know there are things like the seated squares session at NEFFA but am hoping for material that wouldn't require rearranging the furniture, etc. between selections.

Thanks!

Don

_______________________________________________
List Name:  Callers mailing list
List Address:  Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Archives:  https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/