rhymes

The Mitten

January 22, 2016 by Erika Leave a Comment

Our recent cold weather reminded me of a dance lesson I did during summer camp last year. It’s actually way more appropriate for winter though! This lesson is inspired by the folk story The Mitten. The version I love is by Jan Brett. However, there are lots of other versions that will work just as well!

First, we sit down on a nice soft red blanket, just like the mitten, and we read the story. Then, we talk about how first the mitten was little and we make a little tiny shape. Then we grow bigger, and bigger, and bigger, and bigger until we’re so big, we EXPLODE! Sometimes we play The Balloon Game, too! 🙂

Then we sing a song. I got this printable over at fellow blogger First Grade Wow.

We do a dance with the song, too! It’s pretty fun! 🙂 We do the following movements while singing along to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell“:

“Hi-Ho! It’s cold outside”: echappe (jump to 2nd and 1st positions), shiver and shake

mole: digging movements

rabbit: hop and jump around the room

hedgehog: wiggle your head back and forth

owl: arms out wide and spin around

badger: mime climbing a ladder

fox: gallop around the room

bear: bear walks (walk on hands and feet) around the room

mouse: crawl down low

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Teaching Ballet Positions

December 30, 2015 by Erika 1 Comment

I love ballet. I always have. However, I teach recreational ballet. To six year olds. And I have to keep reminding myself of that fact! There are all kinds of developmental considerations when teaching turn-out, and that’s another post for another day. But here is my favorite way to teach ballet positions. We use this rhyme:

1, 2, 3, look at me!

1, 2, 3, look at me (show ballet feet positions 1st, 2nd, 3rd, then releve balance 1st)

1st, 2nd, 3rd, fly like a bird (show ballet feet positions 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Hop to right and left with back leg in arabesque)

1, 2, 3, turn quickly! (show ballet feet positions 1st, 2nd, 3rd, turn around quickly – feet and arms any shape)

Plie, releve, get ready, STAY! (plie and releve in 1st, make a ball down low, balance in releve arabesque)

Movement Rhymes

December 30, 2015 by Erika Leave a Comment

How many times has this happened to you? We’re exactly twelve minutes into dance class, parents are peeping through the windows, and seven three-year-old dancers in pink leotards are chasing a ball they found in the corner of the studio. I’m sitting in the middle of the room doing butterfly stretch with Mollie, who is apparently the only student listening today. No matter how I ask, command, or beg, the others refuse to come to the circle or stretch! Do I give in and let them play ball? Do I ignore the rest of the class and give Mollie my undivided attention? Do I just go into the corner and cry? 🙂

The above situation has happened far more times than I’m proud to admit… But, I’ve got a solution for you! It’s time to redirect! One of my favorite ways to redirect is with a movement rhyme. Dancers love them. Parents think their child is learning something constructive. And I am secretly teaching new skills to unsuspecting preschoolers. Here are a few of my favorites:

Run, run, run, jump! Turn around.

Reach up high. Touch the ground.

Kick your feet. Clap to the beat.

Run, run, run, and Giant leap!

Skip like a butterfly in a circle

Crawl down low, like a turtle

Waddle like a penguin, very quick

Now, show me your trick!

Freeze down low, low, low

Now last thing we grooooooow, grow!

March, march, march, march, Turn around.

Reach up high. Touch the ground.

Wiggle your head and point your feet.

Sit right down. Spin on your seat.

Bear walk, bear walk, across the floor.

Run, run leap, over towards the door.

Chasse, chasse, arms out strong.

Kick your feet, toes out long.

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