Letters from Leaping Legs

Listen when your student says "no" and you might get a "yes"

2012-11-17T12:19:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it has been a month since I lasted posted - it has been unfair of me to keep all my new movement ideas to myself! So let me get right to sharing:

We all have bodies meaning we all have something in common
We all use our bodies to communicate, no matter how subtle or grandiose
Our muscles hold emotions and sometimes we hold our muscles
Moving our bodies is beneficial for our mental, physical and emotional health
Moving can teach you new things about yourself and others
Everyone can move
There is no right or wrong way to move
Some kids can't stop moving
Some kids are shy to move around others
Everyone's bodies and feelings about movement should be honored to make moving safe, fun and comfortable

I was teaching 3rd graders (not a movement class) but of course I added movement because I always throw in kinesthetic learning no matter what I teach. I started leading a movement exercise and one of my students started to get angry crossed his arms and asked if he "had to dance." I said yes. Well, he was not happy and I saw him get anxious tensing his shoulders and standing stiff like a statue. After the class I thought about the experience. I wanted him to dance and explore his movement potential but forcing him to move when he was not comfortable had an adverse effect. His body closed down and he became stressed.

The next class we were sitting in chairs and I had the children stand up and sing and dance. I bent over and whispered to him that he could join in if he was comfortable but he should do what felt right to him. He smiled and looked relieved. His friend sat next to him and I noticed that they were "dancing" in their chairs. He had permission to explore his body the way he was comfortable and did it beautifully!

Permission to use your body in a way that is accessible to you (physically, emotionally and mentally) is huge. Safety and comfort is huge. And listening to your students is huge - picking up signals not only verbally but in all forms of communication.

It is hard as a teacher to sometimes pull back and look at why a child is saying "no" or not wanting to participate.

The next time your student/child says "no" (even if you are super excited about your lesson or creative idea) take a moment to explore why they don't want to participate. Giving a child permission to say "no" might lead them to exploring at their own pace and teach them movement is safe because they are choosing to do it - and not being forced before they are ready. And that "no" might soon become a "yes."

Explore the "no's" with the children in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

What do Apples and Butterflies Have in Common?

2012-10-06T20:29:00.001-04:00

A few years ago my sister went to France and came back with a beautiful picture book La Pomme Et Le Papillon. (It means the apple and the butterfly.) I love books and wanted her to bring me back a children's book, even though I do not speak French.

To my surprise and delight there are no words in this book - only illustrations. The first page is an illustration of the inside of an apple hanging from a tree with a tiny little caterpillar emerging from the core. The caterpillar slowly eats its way out of the apple and as you flip the pages you continue the caterpillar's adventure as it hangs down off the apple, lands on a nearby branch and builds a cocoon. The illustration of the tree shows the passing of time as the leaves change color, fall off the branches and then new leaves develop as the butterfly peaks its head outside of its slumbering home. At the end of the story, the butterfly flies off to a new blossoming apple tree and lays an egg on an apple blossom. The cycle begins again.

I was thinking of this book today because it is apple picking season here in New England. And when I teach thematic classes in autumn I utilitze the idea of picking apples. The children and I usually talk about reaching to pick the apples, pushing the wagon, rolling down the hill, slicing and crunching apples but never what can happen inside an apple.

The mysteries of the unknown, a world within a world - now that is the place that imaginations can really soar like a butterfly! New ways of approaching a subject can be exciting for student and teacher alike.

This book's story unfolds with pictures. It clearly demonstrates that a story can be told elequently without a single word. This is a great way to tie movement and literacy together. The students can dance the story.

And of course there are so many action words that can come out of the story as well: peak, crawl, wiggle, hang, nestle, fall, grow, expand, fly, glide, perch, open, descend - to name a few. And I bet your students can come up with twice as many by exploring the story with their bodies or by coming up with their own apple adventure.

Think outside the box and open this book for a new look at using the imagery of apples this autumn season. And don't forget to come back to it at spring time to add to the discovery and adventure!

Sincerely,

Stacey

Stress balls!

2012-09-20T23:10:00.000-04:00

Have you ever squeezed a stress ball? It squishes in your hand but gives enough resistance to keep your hand and arm muscles active. When you release the ball it bounces back to it's original shape and your hand relaxes. It feels really good!

Some kids need to keep their muscles active, need to feel resistance or just need to fidget and keep their hands or bodies busy. They learn better and are more productive when they are moving, feeling, sensing and/or experiencing something.

Even though I teach movement and dance I have told students to "stop moving and pay attention." It's silly when I think about it. I am asking a child to stop in order to process what I am saying. What if he or she needs to move in order to process the information?

I can't sit still to learn. I can sit still but I won't retain the information. In other words, if I want to truly learn something I have to see it, feel it, and experience it.

If you give me a map of my own backyard I will need a search party to rescue me! In order for me to get from one place to another I need to focus on landmarks like the colors and shapes of buildings and the winding path of the road. (My Garmin helps as well!) When learning someone's name I visualize the spelling of the name and associate the sound with a visual picture if it is a hard name to remember. And when I need to activate my creative side, my problem solver side or my comical side, it is necessary for me to move my body. When I want to get in touch with my feelings and emotions I need to stop moving and sense how I am breathing, how I am holding my body and feel how the energy is flowing (or not flowing) from my head to my toes.

When I am angry, anxious and frustrated it feels really good to squeeze a stress ball. I can actively feel my muscles speak to me. I can hear my body talking to me. Squeezing the ball enables me to do the opposite - I am able to let go and relax. My body teaches me. If I engage then I can release.

Instead of telling a child to stop a behavior - redirect the behavior. If a child needs to move ask them to move big! Engage their muscles, their senses and their brains in new ways. Look closer at a chatty child. Are they intentionally not paying attention or do they need some background noise. Can they sing along to music you are playing?

Think of the whys, the hows and the how- tos. And when you think about how to engage the children in your life squeeze a stress ball. It feels so good!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Transitioning From August To September Takes Center Stage

2012-08-15T18:07:00.002-04:00

Well, it is the time again. Back to school commercials, letters from the new school teacher and the days of the week getting closer to September and further from August. Some kids love this time of year and find it exciting. Others, not so much.

I always fit into the "not so much" category. Actually there is another category that I really fit into which was the "hide under the bed and maybe they won't find me" category.

Life transitions have always been tricky for me.

I learned while studying choreography that dance is really all about the transitions. Stringing each movement phrase together takes artistic maturity. Transitions are important and should be given the same amount of time and attention as the grand leap or sensational spin center stage.

There are many types of transitions. Here are just a few:

You can pause between phrases
You can choose a traveling step to link sections of a dance
You can add another dancer

The same transitions that are utilized in dance can be implemented in the life of a school child beginning a new school year, new dance program, new teacher, etc.

Make sure to recognize the importance of your children or students' transitions. Have them pause and take a few deep breaths. Maybe have them skip, jump or hop to the bus or encourage them to bring a friend to class (even if the friend is an inanimate object.) If you acknowledge and create smooth transitions for your little ones you will help ease them gently and safely into new situations. (You will have less anxious, better behaved, more attentive and engaged children.)

When I taught dance regularly at a dance studio I made entering the space a sacred ritual. It was something to look forward to. Each child picked their own way of entering the space (skipping, twirling, crawling, etc.) Immediately they got my undivided attention. They got the attention of their classmates and they had to to attend to their bodies and movements as well.

I don't hide under my bed anymore (I can't fit under my bed) but I don't need to either. I choose the transition that best fits the experience (like pausing and taking a deep breath, adding a little extra hop to my step or bringing a friend like a soothing phrase, happy thought, or calming image.) Taking on the new experience becomes accessible and enjoyable.

Explore transitions with the little ones in your life and see if August can roll into September with ease ( it can also hop, skip, slither, etc.)

Sincerely,
Stacey

Creating a Dance is as Simple as 1, 2, 3, 4

2012-07-28T21:42:00.002-04:00

Creating movement can be daunting - especially if you don't know where to start. So start at the beginning!!

Create a beginning shape:

Choose a level (high, middle or low)
Choose to make straight lines, angles or curves with your body

Choose a way to move from here to there:

walk, run, jump, skip, hop, glide, gallop, roll, turn

Choose a pathway:

You can hop in a straight line across the room, in a circle, or make zigzags across the floor

Create an end shape:

It can be the same as the opening shape or a different one.

It's that simple. If you are comfortable with these 4 steps, here are other elements you can think about:

Tempo: slow, medium or fast. (Play different music and see how your body reponds differently to the melody, tempo and energy of the songs.)
Add a feeling state: sleepy, alert, confused, happy, dreamy, etc
Add a story: Take words out of a story or poem and let that be your inspiration.

Here is one of my favorites by Shel Silverstein from the book Where the Sidewalk Ends:

Dancing Pants

And now for the Dancing Pants

Doing their fabulous dance.

From the seat to the pleat

They will bounce to the beat,

With no legs inside them

And no feet beneath.

They'll whirl, and twirl, and jiggle and prance,

So just start the music,

And give them a chance-

Let's have a big hand for the wonderful, marvelous,

Super sensational, utterly fabulous,

Talented Dancing Pants!

Most importantly have fun exploring movement. There is no right and wrong. Creating a dance is like taking a paintbrush to canvas except your body is the brush and the space around you is the canvas. The best part is you can take the canvas anywhere and you change the colors anytime you want!!

Have fun creating movement with the children in your life!

Sincerely,

Stacey

For more information on the elements of movement check on our website: http://www.leapinglegs.com/danceExclusive.html

The Best Yoga DVD I Never Watched

2012-07-17T17:52:00.002-04:00

Whenever I practice yoga at home I always encourage my daughter to practice with me. The answer I get is "no!" So yesterday when I wanted to watch Yoga Unveiled I was surprised that my daughter wanted to watch it with me. (Ok, if I am going to be honest, she wanted to stay up past her bedtime.)

Five minutes into the DVD she started asking me tons of questions. I was afraid it was over her head. Soon she ran out of the room. I thought she lost interest. Then she ran back into the room with a yoga mat. She set it up by the TV and imitated poses she was observing on the screen. "Look at me!" she kept yelling. "How does this look?" "Look at my flow."

Well, I did not get to see much of the DVD because my attention shifted to what was happening right in front of me.

My daughter is resistant to me teaching her specific dance or yoga movements. She doesn't want to be taught how to move; she wants to create the movements herself. I smiled and nodded as she showed me each pose. She asked me the Sanskrit names of the postures and was a serious yogi practicing her tree pose (Vriksasana.)

It dawned on me that I am teaching her by giving her exposure to dance and yoga. I am teaching her by example and by showing enthusiasm for something I love. This gives her permission to explore on her own terms, in her own time and in her own way.

And yesterday she taught me!

Share your enthusiasm for movement with the children in your life and watch how their curiosity will ulitmately lead them to movement explorations.

Sincerely,
Stacey

The Thuderstorm Jitterbug!

2012-07-02T21:14:00.000-04:00

Summer is here and with summer heat comes summer thunderstorms. Some children can find thunder and lightning very scary. A lot of the fear has to do with the unpredicatable nature of the sound and light. Some people can even jump sky high when startled by thunder sending their nerves all a jitter! So how do you combat jitters in your bones and belly - dance of course!!

The Thunderstorm Jitterbug!

What you will need:

Grab some tambourines, egg shakers, or pots and pans

Find a big sheet, tablecloth or blanket

Pull out a flashlight

Grab some scarves, streamers or a water spritz bottles

Here we go:

Drape the sheet over you and your little ones .*

Have each child hold a percussion instrument and slowly move up and down as if you were a raincloud filling up with moisture ready to pour down on your neighborhood.

When the excitiment builds say "I see lightning" and flash the flashlight up to the ceiling.

Then ask the kids "what happens after lightning?" Thunder of course! Have them bang away at their instruments.

Count and see how long before the lightning strikes again!

Repeat this as many times as you like. You can start with 10 seconds between each "lighting strike" and have the thunder and lightning get closer and closer until....

After the thunder and lightning comes the rain. Throw off the sheet and dance around with scarves, streamers or even water spritz bottles. You are the raindrops dancing down from the clouds.

*If you have extra adults handy, you can also hold the blanket up and have the little ones stand on one side of the blanket. They can push on the sheet to expand the cloud as well as move up and down. The children can come out from under the sheet when it is time for the rain to dance.

We learn through our experiences. If you do a Thunderstorm Jitterbug with your kids then maybe the next time there is a big storm instead of hiding under the bed they will run for their tambourines instead!

Have fun making storm clouds with the kids in your life,
Sincerely,
Stacey

Don't Tip Toe When it Comes to Behavioral Issues

2012-05-20T21:22:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I have written last. My daughter has had some tummy issues that have taken my full attention. Which leads me to the idea for this post. We will not always have happy children in class. Sometimes an uncooperative behavior is due to an underlining issue. What are teachers supposed to do?

Check in with the parents. Is there anything you need to know? Sometimes parents can be hesitant to let you know any personal struggles their children are having because they don't want their children labeled. First discuss the positives and then ask them how the child feels about coming to class. You can say " I have noticed Sara is having a challenging time with sharing the green scarves." You might not need to say anything else. The parents might fill in the blanks. If they don't then you have left the door open for future conversations.
Keep food celebrations to a minimum. This is where it gets tricky with my daughter. She has many food allergies which makes her feel left out at times and having the offending food can make her behavior erratic. What I have noticed through this experience is that so many celebrations revolve around food. There are many children with allergies and food restrictions (which effect behavior.) Find. a different way to celebrate. It be helpful to the children in your class and it teaches kids that sweets are not the only treats for a job well done.
Don't force participation. It will only lead to anxiety and a power struggle. Let the child watch and enter at their own time.
If the child is watching have them engage in other ways. And make sure to give choices. "Sara, would you like to stop and start the music or hold the scarves?"
Praise for effort. Praise the child for when she does participate and praise the class when they show kindness to each other.
Dance class is a place of exploration, art and a place of community. Practicing these skills in the studio makes them dance to life outside the studio!!

Enjoy creating a classroom environment for all your dance students!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Negative Space is Postively Fun!

2012-03-04T14:46:00.000-05:00

I was practicing some yoga in my living room and my daughter started to dance around me and tried to fit her body into the empty spaces in the yoga poses. (With much success and imagination!) Empty spaces are so much fun. We usually explore big spaces we can see but what about the little spaces that are not as obvious?

Activity to Explore:

Have a few of your students make shapes with their bodies. (Remind them they can make angles, curves and straight lines with their arms, legs, knees, hips, back, etc.)
Next, have a few more students try to "fit" into the empty spaces (in dance we call this negative space.) Encourage them to complement the shape. It is not about sticking an arm through a space but finding a way to highlight and draw attention to the space. For example, when I was practicing Downward Facing Dog ( a yoga movement that creates a large upside down "V" with the body) my daughter rolled underneath me in a tucked in ball shape. She created a curve under my angle.
If you have permission from parents, take pictures of your exploration.

This exercise reinforces the concept of space and let's the children experiment with how shapes can fit together.

Have fun exploring with the the children in your life!
Sincerely,
Stacey

How High Can You Jump and How Softly Can You Land?

2012-01-25T21:18:00.002-05:00

Dance teachers know to teach their students to bend their knees when coming out of a jump. It is how a dancer lands without a big "thud." It is how to cushion a landing. It is a necessity in taking care of a dancer's ankle, knee and hip joints. In essence the bend gives the dancer the ability to stay grounded.

When a dancer bends her knees, she feels more connected to the ground and can easily push off the floor and land comfortably back down. She can do this over and over again with no ill affect on her body.

This concept can apply to more than just jumps. (I often tell my sister to bend her knees when she is anxious because her voice becomes three octaves higher.) When emotions start to overtake a person, the body can get locked, energy gets stuck and we loose our ability to be resilient. When we bend we are not rigid and therefore we don't break.

This is a great skill to teach young children. It is never to early to teach resilience. Try this dance activity with your children/students:

How High Can You Jump?

Bend your knees. Push off the floor and land with a bend in the knee. Now push off again. Do ten in a row.
Do the same activity without bending your knees.
Ask the students which way was easier? Which exercise allowed the body to jump higher?
Bending our knees enables us to cushion our landing. The softer the landing the quicker we are able to jump right back up!
How else do we take care of ourselves in dance? (Following directions, stretching, etc.)
How do you take care of yourself when you are frustrated with a dance move? Do you have a bend in your attitude? Are you kind to yourself so you can try again with ease? Do you lock your emotions or bend and let them flow?

We all have to land. Gravity will not let us do otherwise. It is the way in which we fall back to the earth that will enable us to get back up either in a jump, leap or an actual fall. Teaching both technically and mentally how to land is essential to all dancers ( and children.)

Have fun landing with bent knees with the children in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Mirrors out, Dance in!

2011-11-03T01:59:00.001-04:00

I decided to take a teacher training course in Yoga to study movement from a new angle. As you might guess there are so many similarities in focus, caring for the body and stretches/movements/poses. I was surprised that I do so many yoga poses in my dance teaching without knowing it.

There is a big focus on how the body feels, listening to your body's "edge" and not doing anything that creates pain. I believe this 100% in dance but I do not feel that children are taught this as much as they should. The concentration can be overwhelmingly on how something looks and "no pain no gain." Now I know that dance is different then yoga. Choreography of course is different but that does mean that these principles should be lost.

I love teaching young children because they are not focused as much on how something looks as much as how it feels. I try not to use mirrors because I think this sends the wrong message to young dancers. The focus should be more internal and less external. Freeing themselves of inhibitions should be encouraged.

Try teaching some dance classes without the mirror and observe how the movements change and how your students react. It could be a great exercise in learning how you teach, how you describe movement and how they interpret it as well.

If children explore what their bodies can do, how their bodies feel and what muscles are being utilized the end product are dancers who are healthy, confident and will be able to transition from young dancers to performers. And it will also promote a life long love of dance.

I didn't realize when I decided to learn more about Yoga that it would strengthen my beliefs about dance. I am looking forward to learning more!

Space - never ending and always worthwhile to explore

2011-10-24T21:25:00.000-04:00

My daughter is 8 years old. She is spirited and full of energy. Her space is boundless which means her space can inadvertently invade my space and the people around her. She likes to touch, get close, and hug. As I work with her on understanding her spatial boundaries I think back on the words in dance that I use to teach space. These are the same words I use to help her keep her spatial boundaries with others.

For example:

Respect other people's personal space. Don't get more than arms length from someone ( even if it is your best friend.)
Hands to yourself. When you touch someone, you are putting your body into their space.
Do not push someone out of your way. There space is just as important as yours.

Funny how I taught her this in dance but yet it needs to be relooked at, relearned and remembered. This is a perfect example of the way we learn. We relearn and re-explore as we get older. We are always learning the information on a deeper level.

Another element I am working with her is energy. When she walks up to a group a kids she is so excited that her energy does not always match the group. When I teach dance, I always ask the kids to listen without words. Sense the groups dynamics, energy level and focus. These are the same things I am reteaching to her now.

And lastly, effort. Sometimes we need to be strong and other times light, depending on the situation. Whether it be touch (like picking up the dog) or a light or strong way of talking.

The lessons we are taught in dance stay with us, whether we are dancing or not, teaching dance or not. They are universal. So the next time you are not teaching a dance class, see if you can utilize your dance knowledge to keep the training going - but in a different environment without dance attire, mirrors of even a structured class.

Have fun explore dance concepts outside the dance studio/classroom with the little ones in your life.
Sincerely,
Stacey

The Lion King is King!

2011-10-09T19:45:00.001-04:00

My friend emailed me this article last week and I was so excited about what I read that I had to pass it on! I was moved to read about The Lion King creating a special performance accessible for people with autism. The arts are for everyone. With a little understanding and a lot of love and care, the magic can be shared by everyone! Read and enjoy!

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/to-broadway-with-autism/?emc=eta1

Have fun creating accessible dance and theatre experiences with the children in your life.

Sincerely,
Stacey

Before Class "To Do's"

2011-09-26T21:29:00.000-04:00

I often write about what goes on in a movement class. Activities you can do, themes you can explore. Today I am going to focus on what should take place before a movement experience.

The To Do's before class

Before teaching class let your students know:

That you are happy to be there. Show enthusiasm - it is catchy!
What themes or ideas you will be exploring.
One or two things you are looking for in terms of behavior. (Raising a quiet hand, eye contact, standing up nice and tall, etc.
That they should do their best.

Before sending your children off to dance class let your child know:

That you are happy they are going. Show enthusiasm - it is catchy!
They should think about what they will be doing or exploring in class.
What you expect of them in terms of behavior (Listen to the directions, raise your hand when you want to ask a question, etc.)
Do your best.

Pretty much the same.

It does not matter if you are teaching a class or getting your child ready to take a class. Preparing them is an essential component to their success.

A simple but yet important part of helping you child or student succeed is to let them know their schedule and/ or setting up a very predictable routine. My daughter knows that her 3rd grade class goes to art on Monday and library on Thursday. She dresses appropriately for art and puts her library books in her backpack every Thursday morning. Knowing her school schedule helps her emotionally prepare for her day.

Unfortunately I did not follow this rule today.

I told my daughter that she had Tae Kwon Do as she jumped off the bus after school. She had a hard time transitioning from playing with the kids in the neighborhood to getting ready for her martial arts class. It became stressful for both of us. Instead of following my list of "before class to do's" I focused on the before class "what not to do's." ( It wasn't as much fun and definitely not rewarding.)

Transitions are essential. If your child or student has a smooth transition from one activity to the next she/he is more likely to be physically as well as mentally prepared. And it is way more fun and much more rewarding for everyone.

Have fun preparing for class with (and for) the children in your life.

Sincerely,
Stacey

Movement Modifications Makes Dance Accessible

2011-09-13T21:13:00.000-04:00

I always say movement is for everyone - every age, ability and experience. What I should also say is movement is for everyone regardless of any limitations you might be experiencing. I hear a lot of "I can't because" and usually it has to do with a body ailment ( bad knee, hip, back, etc.) Believe me, I know what it is like to have a bad back and I also know how good it feels to move. The trick is not to let the physical issue turn into a creative one!

I bring this up especially for teachers and parents. If you can't get on the floor with your students, or you can't run you still can _____________________ (finish this sentence!)

I have limitations due to a back injury but this does not stop my imagination. Movement starts in the heart and works its way through the body. If something hurts don't do it but do something else.

Here are some ideas:

Play fisherman - Have the children move around the space and pretend to catch one on your hook or in your net. When your "fish is caught" then the fish becomes the fisherman. The fisherman can't move her lower body (or she will rock the boat) so she must use her upper body to reel in the fish. This exercise is great for someone who can't run or jump. If it is hard to stand then sit and pretend you are sitting at the edge of a dock.
Create a hand dance. Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and have your hands do the dance. First a little caterpillar munches on some leaves. Then a big full caterpillar moves slowly because he is so full. Create a cocoon with your hands and then slowly open up and explore the movements (flapping, open/close, soaring, etc.) of a butterfly.
Explore movement sitting down. Sit on a chair and move your trunk (torso.) Have all the kids sit in chairs and create a chair dance. How many ways can you bend and stretch in a chair? How high and low can you reach? How far side? How far down? Can you roll your shoulders? Can you bend your knees and arms at the same time?

The possibilities are endless once you modify movement to fit your specific needs. You don't need feet to stand on/walk on / jump on to move and dance with little ones in your life. Explore these possibilities and share the possibilities with the little ones in your life (and everyone in your life as well!)

Sincerely,
Stacey

After A Storm We Dance As a Community

2011-09-01T21:08:00.000-04:00

In the Northeast we are still recovering from Hurricane Irene. The storm was Sunday and more than half of my town is still without power. And because most of the houses use well water most people do not have water as well as electricity, internet or phones. People as you can imagine can get a little cranky and frustrated without a hot shower and a hot cup of coffee but for the most part everyone has been reaching out to each other, lending a hand and laughing a lot.

After the storm, my entire neighborhood stood together in the street, assessed the damage, helped each other take down tree branches as well as chatted and learned about each other's storm experiences. And while we talked, the kids played baseball in the rain. The next day the kids all played together from morning until night galavanting from house to house cleaning yards. I was amazed at how the kids came together. It was an exciting adventure and they were experiencing it together.

I think that is the biggest lesson I learned from this event. When we feel like we are all in it together, a greater sense of good kicks in (whatever the "it" may be.) We don't feel alone, isolated or picked on. We feel supported, understood and united.

I wanted to share this experience to encourage you to create a sense of community in your school or neighborhood. Instead of the parents in my neighboorhood asking the kids to go and clean up the yards ( which would never have worked) the kids came up with the idea themselves because they experienced the event together and wanted to do good together.

Create a dance project that comes from a need in your community. Ask the children to brainstorm about current events to create a dance theme or school theme. Find common ground to create. And then let the kids at it!!

Have fun creating a sense of community and creating dance with the children in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

New Spaces, New Experiences, New Dancers

2011-08-15T10:12:00.000-04:00

I like to do research and I am not talking about the kind of research you do before you write a term paper. I mean getting to know my surroundings before I teach, attend a workshop or even a performance. I have a tendency to get lost when I drive (even with my GPS) so sometimes I will drive to a location I need to be at a day or two before. I like to check out the space I am going to teach in ahead of time if this is possible as well. I like to be prepared so any surprises I might encounter are minimized.

The same strategies can be applied to teaching/parenting children. The unknowns are even more daunting for kids. Children like routine, predictability and do not have the same understanding of time that adults have (meaning children can not be rushed!)

If you are a parent of a child taking dance for the first time, see if you can visit the school before the first day of class. Try on leotards, tights, and shoes before the first day because sometimes kids need to get used to new tactile experiences as well.

If you are a teacher, invite children to the studio beforehand if possible. On the first day of class take a tour of the studio. Discuss how the dance space is different then their living room. Are there any similarities? And don't forget to tour the bathrooms!!

If the children are prepared you can help minimize any surprises they might encounter and ensure a smooth transition to a new class, school and experience. (Parents and teachers will be more prepared as well!)

Have fun researching your new surroundings and preparing your little ones for a successful dance year!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Dancing Words Creates Dancing Pants

2011-07-25T22:08:00.001-04:00

I have written before about how much I love Shel Silverstein's poetry and how poetry or words can inspire movement. Well, my dear friend was teaching a summer dance workshop and called me up with an urgent request. She wanted to know if I could suggest a Shel Silverstein poem that her jazz dance class could use to create a dance. I nearly leapt out of my chair with excitement. (Okay - I did leap out of my chair.) I have many books Shel Silverstein wrote but my absolute favorite is Where The Sidewalk Ends.

I began to suggest to my friend almost ever poem on every page of the book. His poetry is so descriptive it just about begs a dancer to move to the words. She decided on the poem Dancing Pants.

Dancing Pants by Shel Silverstein (page 126 in Where the Sidewalk Ends)

And now for the Dancing Pants
Doing their fabulous dance.
From the seat to the pleat
They will bounce to the beat,
With no legs inside them
And no feet beneath.
They'll whirl, and twirl, and jiggle and prance,
So just start the music
And give them a chance-
Let's have a big hand for the wonderful, marvelous,
Super sensational, utterly fabulous
Talented Dancing Pants!

Hope you can come up with a dance for these dancing pants with the little ones in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Simple Moves for a Simply Fabulous Dance

2011-07-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

I just came back from dancing in New Hamsphire with my friend children's music singer/songwriter Steve Blunt. He is in the process of completing his new CD and he had the great idea of adding a bonus movement feature to the disc. The movements he created are simple and easy to remember because they mimic the words he sings. It makes the songs interactive and the kids get to be silly as they listen to silly lyrics. Dances do not have to be complicated to be effective and engaging. In fact, sometimes the simplier the better!

You can use this idea to create simple movements to your favorite tunes.

Choose a song that has a lot of descriptive words or clear actions.
Have the words of the song inspire three or four movements that can repeat throughout the song. (It is great to pull ideas out of the chorus since it repeats.)
One or two of the movements should travel through the space and one or two should be stationary.
Create a beginning and end shape to the dance.
Make sure at least one movement engages the entire body.
Encourage the kids to use facial expressions as well.
Be careful not to "act out" the song.
Make sure the kids come up the movements with you!

Simple dances are fun and do not require much space. You can even have the kids pick out the music. (Make sure to listen to the lyrics first before agreeing to the song.)

Have fun dancing to your favorite song with the little ones in your life. And keep your movements simple for a simply fabulous dance!

Sincerely,
Stacey

A Growing Family Tree

2011-07-05T13:49:00.000-04:00

A few years back a child in one of my classes was awaiting the arrival of a baby brother. The classroom teacher of this preschooler asked me to create a lesson to address this upcoming event. My challenge was to create a lesson that was not too literal, could be univeral to all the children in the class as well as address the needs of this particular student. This is what I came up with:

Music For The Lesson

I used Tom Paxton's Family Tree song for this lesson. If you do not know who Tom Paxton is check out is website: http://www.tomchapin.com/index.html He is one of the best folk singers of his era and is an incredible song writer.

Here is the excerpt of the song:

Before the days of Jello
Lived a prehistoric fellow,
Who loved a maid and courted her
Beneath the banyan tree.
And they had lots of children.
And their children all had children.
And they kept on having children
Until one of them had me!

(chorus)
We're a family and we're a tree.
Our roots go deep down in history
From my great-great-granddaddy reaching up to me,
We're a green and growing family tree.

To listen to the song or to download it check out: http://www.tomchapin.com/docs/listen.html

Dance Activity
Walk in a circle holding hands and sing the chorus of the song. Invite a child to dance in the center of the circle as everyone keeps moving counterclockwise. Invite another child in and have them dance together. Keep adding children until the entire class is dancing together. Then direct them back to the circle. Do this a few times. Have them talk about the activity.

How did they feel when they were dancing and other children joined in?
What does the song mean to them?
What happens when a family grows?
Is there room for everybody?
Was it fun to dance with many people?

There is no right or wrong answer. Do no lead the children to an answer. Let them explore their feelings.

Have fun exploring what an expanding family tree means to you and the children in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

A Dance Activity Bubbling Over With Pastabilities

2011-06-27T23:18:00.001-04:00

I love creating dance lessons that are fun, silly and connect to activities my students do at home. I also love to connect dance to literature. When I can connect the two - it is quite delicious!

This lesson was inspired by the book Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola. In the book, Strega Nona (grandma witch) boils pasta with just a few simple magic words. But when her handyman overhears these enchanting words he tries his hand at using the magic pot. But unfortunately he doesn't know how to make it stop!

Children love to eat spaghetti. And they love stories. Even better, they love stories about noodles taking over a tiny village in Italy.

The Magic Pasta Pot Activity
Read the children the story. (If you can not find the story you can still do the activity but if you can get the story it is a keeper!)

A quick summary of the important details of the story:

The magic words to make the pot boil with pasta:

"Boil, boil pasta pot,
make me pasta nice and hot,
I'm hungry and it's time to sup,
boil enough pasta to fill me up."

The magic words and gesture to make the pot stop:

"Enough, enough, pasta pot,
I have my pasta nice and hot
So simmer down my pot of clay
Until I'm hungry another day"

And blow three kisses to the magic pasta pot!

Now let the fun begin!

The poor handyman peaked in through the window and saw Strega Nona say the magic words to cook her dinner. He even saw her say the magic words when she wanted the pot to simmer down. But he did not see her blow three kisses into the pot! Recreate this part of the story.

Make a big circle on the floor ( I like to use painter's tape. Easy to tape down and even easier to pull up!)
Have all the children stand in the center of the circle.
Say the magic words with the children.
Have the children slowly bubble out of the pot. (You might want to ask them before the activity starts to list some action words that describes how spaghetti moves or how they eat spaghetti. Examples might include: wiggle, squirm, slurp, twirl, flop, etc.)
Say the magic words but do not blow the three kisses. (Make sure they know if you do not blow the kisses they should not stop dancing!)
Encourage them to "take over" the space. The spaghetti will not stop.
Finally say the magic words again and blow three kisses! When the children see the kisses they should run back into the "pot."

To add an extra fun element to the activity give each student a box of spaghetti to take home with them so they can have pasta for supper!!

Have fun cooking up this yummy activity with the children in your life!

Sincerely,

Stacey

Reruns are just as fun the second time around

2011-06-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

Do you ever get stuck wondering what to teach or what activity to do with your little ones? Well, I certainly have this problem every now and then. Do you know what I do when this happens? I repeat an activity I have already done. That simple.

You can ask your students to call out their favorite activities and the class can vote on what they would like to do. My favorite, however, is to pick a lesson I wasn't so happy with the first time. It gives me an opportunity to revisit it, to change what did not work and to enhance what did.

I always type out my lessons. I record what I plan on doing and then I go back after the lesson and write notes about what I did - what worked and what did not.   This way when I do the lesson again I can build upon what was successful.

When you do the lesson again, ask the students to demonstrate what they remember about the particular concept. This is a great assessment tool.

Don't be afraid to repeat. We learn by repetition.  We build confidence and master a concept by reviewing, repeating and practicing.  And students love to repeat lessons.  They love to show off what they know and remember.

I am sure I have repeated these ideas in other posts but the more I write about a topic the more I understand it myself.

Have fun repeating and re-repeating activities with the little ones in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Seventy Six Trombones Led The Big Parade

2011-05-31T21:47:00.002-04:00

I love a good parade! And this Memorial Day weekend there were tons! There is so much movement involved in a parade even if you don't see a single dance step.

Here is what I saw:

People walking in unison
People keeping a specific formation
A group following a leader
A group focusing on their spatial relationships

Here are other things I saw:

Flags, banners, hats, instruments
Waving, smiling, marching, skipping, hand holding, hugging, clapping
Pictures being taken, posing, freezing ( in a shape for a picture)

Create Your Own Parade!

Make banners, hats or flags: Decide what your parade is celebrating. Maybe it is the end of the year party, the arrival of warm weather, a big dance achievement like everyone remembering to go to the bathroom before class. It does not matter. However, have the kids decide. They will have a much bigger sense of ownership surrounding the parade. Once, you have decided then create your banners, hats or flags. These are great props!
Create instruments: Fill Tupperware with rice or pasta and shake to your hearts content. Empty tissue boxes with rubber bands around them make great string instruments, and let's not forget the old standby - pots, pans and cooking spoons!
Decide on your Pathway: Are you going to walk in straight lines, curves or in angles? Will you turn around at some point?
Decide on how you will move through the space: Will you walk, skip, jump, turn, gallop or spin in your parade? Will you follow a leader, move in unison as a group or move as a group doing your own thing?
Take a picture: Come up with a few poses or shapes before the parade starts. Then when you say "picture please" have the kids get into their shapes! Either take real pictures or pretend to with a big gesture.
Have a real parade! Once all the different variables are worked out, have real parade. Invite parents to line up against the walls, or see if your class can parade through the halls of the school. Parents, see if you can create a parade in your neighborhood or invite some neighbors to stand outside their houses and wave!

There is always something to celebrate. And every celebration is better with a few trombones or better yet a few pots and pans!

Have fun parading about with the children in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head

2011-05-24T20:35:00.001-04:00

I love the rain. And it has been raining a lot in the northeast. A lot might be an understatement. It has been raining every day! I hear many people complaining that they can't wait for the sun to come out or they are so tired of the gloomy weather. I sympathize with how they feel. I also see all this rain as a learning opportunity!

The next time it rains have your kids/students lie on the floor. Turn the lights off. Ask them to listen closely. Ask them to concentrate on what they hear. Do this for a few minutes. Ask them what they heard. Write down their answers. (The more descriptive the better.)

Have them look out the window. Ask them to focus on the rain. What does it look like if you focus far away? What does it look like up close? How does it look on the window. Again, write down what they say.

Ask them what rain feels like. ( If you have an opportunity to take them outside or open a window that would be great but not necessary. They can remember what it feels like as well.) What does it feel like on your nose, tongue, hands, feet? Write down their answers.

Ask them what rain tastes like. (Again they can draw on past experiences.) Ask them about the temperature of the rain as well. Write down what they tell you.

Does rain have a smell? If so, what does it smell like? Record their answers.

This exercise works on the children's observation skills. They are challenged to explore with all of their senses. We take in so much of the world with our eyes. It is great to take in our surroundings with the other senses as well.

Ask them to dance using their observations as inspiration. Have the rain be their orchestra!

Keep this exercise up your sleeve for a rainy day. Instead of asking the students to stop looking outside at the rain, encourage them to do so. Encourage them to be aware of their surroundings and how their surroundings effect them.

Have fun with the little ones in your life exploring the world with all of their senses!

Sincerely,
Stacey

Puppy Dog Tails

2011-05-11T12:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever tried to teach your students/children about their bottoms? What I mean of course is the bottom of their spines. We have a top (our heads) and a bottom (our tails). Kids have an easier time moving and leading with body parts they can see. How can you teach them about their tails -by making tails of course!!

Three Different Ways to Make Tails

Draw tails out of paper. Have the kids cut out the tails and color them. Tape them to their leotards or clothes and have them explore how they can make the tail move.
Collect old stockings or tights. Cut them down the middle and stuff them with stuffing/toilet paper (anything that will give it a shape.) Pin, tape, glue or sew them on the children's leotards and have them explore moving with a tail. This type of tail will have more swing!
Take scarves and pin/sew/ glue them on - and create a bottom dance.

Make sure when applying the tail that it is by the end of the spine. (Don't tie it to the children's waists or near their waist.)

To make it even MORE fun have the children explore their heads and tails!

Heads and Tails

Create ears! Buy some headbands. Have the children color and cut ears out of paper. It can be cat, dog, elephant, tiger ears - what ever they like. It can match their tails or not. Tape them to the head bands and let the children explore how their heads can create and lead movement. ( You can also try attaching the ears to clips or bobby pins.)
Now add the tails. How can the children dance moving their heads and tails toward each other and away from each other. Can they move their heads and tails to the right, to the left, up and down?

Read Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The wild things in the book have tops that don't match their bottoms. See if you can create elephant ears with a monkey tail. How would this animal move? What about cat ears with a bird tail? What about puppy dog ears with a fisth tail? Have a wild rumpus. The sillier the better!

Exploring movement with themes and props/costumes can help children visualize what they can not see!

Have fun shaking, wiggling and swinging your tail with the children in your life!

Sincerely,
Stacey