By Tanya Chianese

 

Below is this week's creative movement class plan and music (3-5 year olds):

We warm up in a circle to my voice, which includes stories and songs.

I ask a question (this week – "What's your favorite bug?"), then one at a time we each answer and share a short dance. In my experience, this opens up the introverts early in class. This week the song is Suril Luril by Annlaug.

In a line on dots of tape we practice standing technique. I use Diamond Shapes and Tiptoes (plies), Tight Rope Walks (releve walks), and Brush The Floor (Tendues) from David Howard's Album "Pre-Ballet Music for the Young Child."

We then use Time To Say Goodbye By Andrea Bocelli for a ballon dance.

My most successful part of class, I use Small Jumps – Changements, Temps Leves- Delibes – 2/4 by Peter Helms (or other clear petit allegro music), for clapping/jumps and sometimes a Volcano dance (Erupt on count 1, melt the lava back in counts 2-8). We all count out loud together.

Next, I personally play a toy drum for a tempo game with the students, by far their favorite part of class.

For across the floor I mix up their favorite pop songs (which even at their young age, they often know all the lyrics) and other upbeat music. Currently: Stitches by Shawn Mendes, Shake it Off by Taylor Swift, Sing A Song by Earth, Wind & Fire, and Les Artistes by Santogold.

We always finish with improvisation stories or freeze dance. Currently, I have a beach story to the music Water From The Same Source by Rachel's.

Tanya Chianese is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is Artistic Director of the ka·nei·see | collective.

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Related posts: 

Blog Series: The Playlist Project

My Dance Week: Tanya Chianese

Becoming a Teaching Artist: Picture Books to Use in Your Children's Classes

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