MOVE & GROOVE – Warm Up!
March 8, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove
Warming up is such an important, yet overlooked part of dance and movement; the logical beginning of any dance or movement class.
Warming up our muscles means that we are taking care of the body, easing gradually into movement. Just like waking up in the morning, we don’t spring out of bed like we’ve been shot out of a cannon. We stretch and move slowly before we hit the ground running. Warming up helps prevent injuries, preparing the body for bigger movements.
Begin warming up gently, choosing either a top-down or bottom-up approach. If you choose the top-down approach, begin with the head, neck and shoulders, working your way down. The bottom-up approach works in reverse, beginning with the feet. Either way, there are a few key areas to keep in mind as you warm up:
Head and neck. Try tilting the head side-to-side, and rolling the head in circles. Follow by rolling the shoulders in circles, forward and in reverse.
Arms. Circle the arms, and “fly” them up and down.
Side body. Stretch gently from side to side.
Hips. Shake them, roll them, and get them going.
Knees and thighs. Ballet dancers do plies, gently bending and straightening the legs.
Calves and feet. Rise up and down on the balls of the feet to bring warmth to the calves. Point and flex the feet.
Spine. Curl down in a cat-like motion, beginning with bringing the chin to the chest, then letting the head go heavy. The body will curve down towards the floor. Roll back up in reverse, with the head coming back up last.
Warming up is just as important as waking up, and starting slowly will keep your body happy. It’s the natural choice for beginning any exercise, and the perfect way to get moving.
MOVE & GROOVE – 5 Easy Steps to Overcome Boredom
March 2, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove, Recent Posts
The human brain is a funny thing in its tendency to quickly reach boredom, Spend too long doing the same thing, or do the same thing too many times, too often, and suddenly there you are. Perhaps the subconscious desire for change serves an important purpose in driving us to continually try new things or different approaches in order to keep our lives dynamic and fresh.
This especially true than when working with children. Young brains haven’t had time to develop much in the way of patience, so focusing and repetition, while necessary, are also difficult. Sometimes they’ll get bored very quickly. Here are a few ideas to help liven things up:
Add something surprising. If you want to get their attention, try something strange, exciting, or gross. Try wheelbarrow races, jumping contests, or high-speed butt-shaking.
A little humor goes a long way. Laughter is powerful medicine, and it rules supreme with children. Have them do a silly walking contest, or better yet, the “underpants dance”, which can be their personal interpretation. The movements won’t matter at all, but the title is sure to get them going.
Use a new technique. If you always begin standing, then start the dance on the floor instead. If you usually teach particular choreography, then play music and let them dance freeform. For an added plus, make it into a game of “freeze dance”, where children freeze in position whenever you randomly turn off the music.
Try a change of scenery. A change of environment can break up routine quickly. Try moving outside in the grass, or in a different room, or with the lights off (Pass out flashlights ahead of time if you have them).
Change your music often. Even teachers need inspiration, and new music always spices things up.
“Bored” is a five-letter word. But with a few simple techniques, you can eliminate it from their vocabulary permanently. We all need fresh ideas, challenges and stimulation. It only requires a few minutes of planning ahead. The results are worth it!
MOVE & GROVE – Find Yourself a Sunbeam!
February 22, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove
Every now and then, we all feel a little down. While it is part of the natural spectrum of human emotion, most of us would rather move on from the feeling as quickly as possible. But here is a failsafe exercise, discovered on the dance floor early one Sunday morning, that just might help cure the blues: find yourself a sunbeam.
Cats do it. Cats have the natural inclination to find themselves a patch of sunlight, plop down, and take up residence. It’s easy to figure out why: sunlight is warm, which feels good. Warmth is relaxing, comforting, and just plain wonderful. But science also tells us that adequate light is necessary for our sanity. In fact, we have a term for the depression that ensues when we don’t get enough of it: Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. A perfect acronym to sum up exactly how we feel, and how important light is to our well-being.
So a patch of sunlight is indeed healing. It feels good, and as light falls on your closed eyelids, it creates a beautiful, golden, orange hue, a rich tone. But don’t stop there. Try adding your favorite soothing music, and gently dancing with your eyes closed. It’s truly a thing of beauty.
Whenever you find yourself with a case of the blues, remember to look for a little patch of light. Immediately insert yourself, close your eyes, and let the light do its magic. It’s powerful medicine, and it’s free.
MOVE & GROOVE – Jump for Joy
February 16, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove, Recent Posts
Out on the west coast, signs of spring are beginning to emerge: rolling hillsides are covered with brilliant emerald grasses, and flowering cherry and plum trees are beginning to bud. We have rounded the corner of the darkest time of year, and the new blooms are so welcome that people are walking with a spring in their step and a song in their hearts; this is what joy looks like when it is expressed in the body.
We have sayings about this feeling, such as “jump for joy.” Joy does make us feel lighter, like floating. It is such a natural part of being human, such a wonderful part that we all enjoy. Why not celebrate that feeling with movement?
Begin with playing music that inspires the feeling of joy, such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Next, try exploring the basic components of joyful movement. Imagining that your heart is full, try moving across the floor, walking or running, feeling as light and free as possible. To stay light on your feet requires stepping more gently, and slightly on tiptoe. Skipping is another joyful movement, as is any sort of jump. As you skip, encourage students to use their full range of movement, incorporating the arms and upper body. How many different ways can you skip? High, low, fast, slow, turning… there are lots of options. The same holds true with jumping, although there are even more variables to play with. For instance, try jumping with your legs together, split apart, straight, bent, or any other combination.
Once you have explored all of the components of joyful movement, have your students put the pieces together into their personal version of the dance. After letting everyone dance simultaneously, try one last variation by having the students form a large circle and have each student take a turn in the center. Those in the circle can continue dancing in place if they wish, taking care to give the person in the center and the other members of the circle enough room to move.
Spring may not be in the air quite yet, but we can rest assured it is right around the corner. In the meantime, we can carry the associated feelings of hope and joy in our hearts and keep our eyes open for the first signs of new life.
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For more articles and other resources about dance and movement for kids, visit www.griercooper.com and www.becomearealballerina.com.
MOVE & GROOVE – Move with the Clouds
February 9, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove
It was a bright and sunny day this morning, even though this was exactly the opposite of the weather forecast. Blue skies and sunshine bring on good feelings, and the urge to get outside… and move. Watching the movement of the clouds overhead gives us something to think about when we move. Clouds don’t look or move just one way; they can be light, wispy and slow-moving, or dark, dense and swift. These are qualities to explore with your dance.
For instance, we’ll begin with the light, wispy ones. What do light and wispy movements look like, and what can we do to create lightness in a dance? We can rise on the balls of our feet in a releve, or jump, leap and skip. What are some other ways to be light and wispy?
Next, try the contrast, the dark, dense, swift ones. Quick, heavy movements include sweeping across the floor, taking large strides with bent knees, or one could roll along the ground. What are some other ways to put this feeling into play?
Nature is both our support system, and our backdrop. We interact with it all the time, either consciously or unconsciously. Clouds are both a constant source of wonder and entertainment. It’s a pleasure to imagine we are a cloud; even if just for a few minutes.
