Rhythmic
Dances
for School Age Kids and Adults
Susan Kramer
Text;
choreography; photography
Copyright 2001-2016 Susan Kramer
Santa Barbara, California USA
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Published by Dance for Children
companion
text: Dances for Preschoolers
photo above: Grunneger Daansers in Emmen, The Netherlands
moving in a counter-clockwise circle
Note to K-12 classroom teachers:
This resource is
recommended by Cris Guenter,
Ph.D., Dept. of Education, CSU Chico.
Rhythms,
Patterns
dance through our lives
I.
General Notes
II.
The Dances:
1.
Marching and Galloping Line Dance; A,B,C,D Sequence
2. Skipping and Sliding Circle Dance; A,B,C,D, Sequence
3.
Waltz and Polka Dance; A,B,C,D, Sequence
4. Minuet,
Gallop, and Slide Dance; A,B,C,D,E,F Sequence
More Dances:
Rhythms and Dances for
School Age Kids
by Susan Kramer
III.
Links
1. The sequence of dances moves from easier to more difficult.
(The two folk dance groups in the photos are using elements of rhythmic dance.)
2.
The first 3 dances are in 4 sets of 16 counts. Each complete step is one count;
such as one skip is one count, each polka is one count, each waltz is one
count. The parts of each step are not clapped in these dances - the dances move
too quickly. Just the accented part of each step is clapped once. The
exception is the minuet which has 4 claps to each set, as it is done in a
stately, rather slow manner.
3.
I recommend hand clapping or rhythm instruments for accompaniment.
4.
For a classroom of 'dancers' - the term I use for participants - provide an
open space such as all furniture pushed to the side walls of a regular
classroom; a multi-purpose room; or outdoors on grass or a hard surface.
5. The
dances are designed to be on the easy side
technically in order to:
a. emphasize forward, backward and sideward movement;
b. practice clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;
c. identify right side and left side of body;
d. develop memory;
e. understand sequencing;
f. use arms in opposition to legs;
g. learn what a set of 4 is, and about multiple sets of 4, 8 and 16
counts;
h. hear and feel the strong beat of the rhythm - the accented part of
the step;
i. learn patience with self and
cooperation with others;
j. finish what is begun; the steps, the sequence, completing the whole;
k. find that learning can be fun while moving enthusiastically.
A,B,C,D Sequence
This dance has 4 sets of 16 counts.
Pattern changes every 16 counts; one count
per march; one count per gallop.
Dancers who are taking a turn on the sideline
as accompanists clap hands or a rhythm instrument once for each march or gallop. At the end of each set of 16 counts there
is a slight pause in clapping to allow dancers to change direction or step.
During marching arms swing in opposition to
raised knee - that is when right knee is raised, left arm swings forward.
During galloping the opposite arm and leg
remain forward - that is when right foot is leading the left arm is forward and
the right arm is slightly back; behind.
Preparation: The front of room is determined. Facing front of
room; called facing forward, dancers stretch arms to side, hands joined, to
form a straight line. Then drop hands and remember this spot as their
"place" for this dance.
1st set of 16 counts: Part A
1. Dancers do 4 marches forward; then 4
marches backward (while facing forward) to "place" with arms swinging
in opposition - that is as right knee lifts up, left arm swings forward.
2. Repeat the sequence of number 1.
2nd set of 16 counts: Part B
3. Dancers take 4 gallops forward with right
foot in front.
4. Dancers turn toward their own right
shoulder to face the back of room and with right foot still in front take 4
gallops back to "place."
5. Turning to face forward and changing to
left foot in front, dancers take 4 gallops forward to front of room.
6. Dancers turn toward their own left
shoulder, keeping left foot in front and take 4 gallops back to
"place."
3rd set of 16 counts: Part C
7. Back to marching: Dancers take hands in
the straight line facing forward and the two dancers on the ends of the line
with 16 marching steps bend the line by moving toward the front and center of
the room into an open circle shape. All are now facing the center of the circle
with hands still joined.
4th set of 16 counts: Part D
8. Back to galloping: Dancers drop hands,
turn toward their right shoulder 1/4 turn to face the back of the dancer next
to them.
9. Then gallop 8 times in the circle shape,
counter-clockwise direction.
10. For the final 8 gallops, a designated
leader set ahead of time lets go of his right hand with his neighbor's left
hand and leads the dancers in a line out of the room or to a corner.
A,B,C,D Sequence
This dance has 4 sets of 16 counts.
Pattern changes every 16 counts; one count
per skip; one count per slide.
Dancers who are taking a turn on the sideline
as accompanists clap hands or a rhythm instrument once for each skip or
slide. At the end of each set of 16 counts there is a slight pause in clapping
to allow dancers to change direction or step.
During skipping when not holding hands, arms
swing in opposition - that means when right leg
is forward, left arm is forward.
Preparation: Dancers stand together in center of room; take hands
and walk backward till arms are stretched forming a circle.
1st set of 16 counts: Part A
1. Holding hands, take 4 skips in to center
of circle; arms remain low.
2. Still holding hands take 4 skips backward
to beginning place.
3. Repeat 1. and 2.
2nd set of 16 counts: Part B
4. Everyone quickly drop hands and make a
quarter turn clockwise, to right, so now dancer is facing the back of the
dancer who was alongside.
5. Take 8 skips moving in a forward
counter-clockwise direction keeping the circle shape; arms swing in opposition.
6. Turn to face opposite direction and take 8
skips in a forward clockwise direction keeping open circle shape; arms swing in
opposition.
3rd set of 16 counts: Part C
7. Turn to face center of circle again; back
at starting position.
8. Take hands with dancer on either side.
9. Holding hands,
all slide to right for 8 slides in a counter-clockwise direction, keeping open
circle shape; pause.
10. Still holding hands, change direction of
circle by sliding 8 times toward left in clockwise direction, keeping circle
shape open; pause.
4th set of 16 counts: Part D
11. Still holding hands take 4 skips in to
center of circle, arms starting down at side, then
arms moving forward and up to overhead by the end of the 4th skip.
12. Still holding hands take 4 skips backward
to again form the open circle shape; arms coming down to sides again by the 4th
skip.
13. To end dance, a dancer designated ahead
of time breaks right hand with adjoining dancer's left hand while remaining
dancers hold hands and leads the dancers in a line out of the room or to one
corner with 8 skips.
A,B,C,D Sequence
This dance has 4 sets of 16 counts.
Dancers who are taking a turn on the sideline
as accompanists clap hands or a rhythm instrument once for each polka or
waltz. At the end of each set of 16 counts there is a slight pause in clapping
to allow dancers to change direction.
During polka steps, when not holding hands,
arms are in opposition - that means when right leg is forward, left arm is
forward.
During waltz steps arms are held to side for
balance.
Preparation: A front of room is determined. Dancers enter from
right back corner of room. An example to determine which is
the right back corner: if a dancer stands in the center of the room and
faces the front, the audience, the corner behind the right shoulder is the back
right corner. The corner in front of the right shoulder is the front right
corner. (Both corners just described are called 'back stage right' or 'front
stage right'.)
1st
set of 16 counts: Part A
1. With 16 polka steps, dancers enter the
room from 'back stage right' moving toward 'front stage right', across the front
toward 'front stage left' and moving toward 'back stage left', moving toward
their entry point and stopping to form a circle; dancers turning to face center
of circle.
2nd set of 16 counts: Part B
2. Dancers make a 1/4 turn toward their left
shoulder to face back of dancer next to them. Then do 16 waltz steps clockwise,
leading with the left foot forward, which will be moving in the opposite
direction from the way they just entered the room, (returning them to their
beginning place at beginning of the 16 waltz steps).
3rd set of 16 counts: Part C
2. Turning to face the center of circle, do 4
polka sets in to center of circle.
3. Turn to face outward and do 4 polka sets
back to place, keeping circle open.
4. Turning to face center of circle, again,
repeat numbers 2. and 3.
4th set of 16 counts: Part D
5. Waltz steps again: make 1/4 turn toward
right shoulder and with a designated leader waltz 16 times counter-clockwise in
the circle shape, exiting at back stage right - the entry point.
A,B,C,D,E,F Sequence
This dance has 6 sets of 16 counts.
The minuet is a pattern of 3 walking steps
with the 4th count a toe point.
Begin each set with the foot of the toe that points. Example: left foot steps forward, right foot
steps forward, left foot steps forward, point right toe to floor; then, right
foot steps forward, left foot steps forward, right foot steps forward, and
point left toe to floor. The timing is 4/4.
Each step in the minuet can have its own
count as the steps are done in a stately manner, which is rather grand and
slow.
Arms remain outstretched to side for balance
when not holding hands.
Preparation: Form two parallel lines along sides of room, dancers
facing each other separated by at least 10 feet. Stand arms
length apart.
1st set of 16 counts: Part A
1. In place, facing the dancers across the
room, do 4 complete minuet sets which will total 16 counts.
2nd set of 16 counts: Part B
2. Moving toward center do 2 sets of minuet
for 8 counts.
3. Turn around toward right shoulder to face
outward and then do 2 sets of minuet to return to place for 8 counts.
3rd set of 16 counts: Part C
4. All dancers turn to front of room and do 4
sets of minuet forward for 16 counts.
4th set of 16 counts: Part D
5. All dancers turn to face back and do 4
sets of minuet for another 16 counts.
5th set of 16 counts: Part E
6. Slides: Lines facing each other, dancers
take 4 slides to center leading with right foot, for 4 counts.
7. All dancers hold hands with dancer
alongside themselves; end dancers take free hand with dancer across from them.
8. Dancers slide backward to spread out into
a circle and move counter-clockwise in a total of 12 slides, one count each, to
make a complete circle returning to place in parallel lines, if possible.
6th set of 16 counts: Part F
9. Gallops: In 16 counts of 16 gallops move
forward toward front of room; one line exiting 'front stage right' and the
other line exiting at 'front stage left'.
Susan Helene Kramer is an
international author of more than 50 collections and thousands of articles on
rhythmic dance, music, philosophy, social issues, meditation, yoga and
practical spirituality for children, teens, adults and those challenged, with
some Dutch, French, German, Greek and Spanish translations. Susan and her
husband, Stan Schaap live in Amsterdam, The
Netherlands.
Rhythms and Dances for
School Age Kids
by Susan Kramer
In 100 pages, 16 rhythmic dance steps illustrated and described,
plus 9 little dances, 18 - ABA and other sequencing combinations, and 4
advanced group dances -
for learning kinesthetically about math sets, sequencing, and language
phrasing and rhythms.
Can be adapted for special needs children.
email susan@susankramer.com
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published
January 4, 2001; updated March 26, 2011; February 16, 2014 | webmaster |