Do Play Party dances like:
The Bingo dance: To the tune of the Bingo song - if you remember that from childhood….
Kids are in two lines facing each other. They start by singing and clapping to the beat:
Part 1) There was an old dog, sat on the back porch, and Bingo was his name oh
There was an old dog, sat on the back porch, and Bingo was his name oh.
Part 2) Then they take hands and swing them forward as they walk forward four steps “B I NG O” back four steps (arms swing back) “B I NG O” forward four steps “B I NG O” and back “and Bingo was his name, oh”
Part3) Then they drop hands, stand in place, and clap hands in front, then back, as they say B (front clap) I (back) N (front) G (back) and jump in the air waving their arms “O”
Part 4) The top two kids from each line (or you can do the top two couples in a little square of four, if there are lots of kids) walk to the bottom of the set while the kids on the outside do the Part 1 Bingo song but not with words, with “la la la “ etc. Everyone moves up along side. Dance continues for as long as the kids want.
Can be done of course with adults mixed in. You could probably change this to a circle if you wanted, and substitute kids promenading around the outside single file while doing the la la part.
They get a sense of rhythm from four steps in and out, clapping on the beat, etc.
Martha
Hi Linda,
I each elementary music. I would be more than happy to help you with this if you still need it. My recommendations.....
1. Teaching the form is great but the little ones will have the hardest time with it and lose interest QUICKLY.
2. If this school event is like mine was, it’ll be an hour and a half of babysitting while parents sit on the side playing on their phones or talking. Maybe you’ll have better luck with this.
3. Actual contras are really hard for elementary aged kids as a whole. And I’ve been teaching them to my kids for years. They have a hard time with the progressions and they will not do a ballroom swing.
4. Several folks have suggested Heel Toe Polka. Great choice! Also Sasha! My kids can’t get enough Sasha! Scatter mixers are your friend! I get back to my classroom tomorrow and I can send you some options if you’d like them. The Vowel Mixer, La Bastraingue, Circle waltz Mixer, Chimes of Dunkirk, Gallopede are all good choices. If you have a large group of kinders, there’s a dance called Kindergarten Reel that you can do with everyone but it’s accessible for Kindergarten.
5. You’ll be calling most of the night. They don’t have the muscle memory that contra dancers have. They need so much more guidance.
I wish you the best of luck! If you have any questions, I would love to guide you in dealing with folk dancing and kiddos. Feel free to email me directly!
Rebecca
Sent from my iPad
Linda,
Chimes of Dunkirk is a great dance for tying the music to the dance.
Also Heel & Toe Polka.
Is there a dance that changes from 2/4 or 4/4 to 6/8? I know I've danced one but I cannot recall it.
I might suggest talking about the types of music we use in traditional dance and maybe talk about a particular tune and its origins.
Peace,
Rich
Although I've been calling forever and I know things, I'm not currently inspired to do this and am asking for help.
Been hired to lead a dance for a music school -- ages 5 and up to teens and their parents and my contact asked if I could lead "dances that encourage really paying
attention to beat counts….throw in some music
education in addition to fun."
So I'll do my standard ONS dances for this group to recorded music that has very good beat counts and distinct phrasing. That's not the problem. The problem is "throw in some music education." I don't need a dissertation, just bits and pieces. The dance is only 1-1/2 hours long followed by ice cream.
I've got a job that keeps me pretty busy and am training for a new job that's taking up a lot of my time and I just can't think anymore.
Any suggestions?
--
Looking forward,
Linda S. Mrosko
102 Mitchell Drive
Temple, Texas 76501
(903) 292-3713 (Cell)
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