Dance Exercises by Cristie!

One of the mandates of this blog is to have the opportunity to collaborate with other dance teachers all over the world. It is the hope of this dance collective that more dance teachers will join us in contributing their knowledge with us.

Here's a great example of the type of information you can contribute to this blog. Thanks Cristie for a great entry!

Cristie Berry
Collaboration Field Study dance exercises
April 22, 2009

1. Posture and Alignment
**“check you chin”—make a fist, turn it upside-down and fit it in between your china and sternum—there should be no space upper or lower IF your posture is in line

2. Rhythm & Musicality & Dynamics
**cardio stepping—“single, single, double”—this is a warm up activity where the foot work is side stepping right one step, left one step, right TWO steps-then reverse it. The students need to count with the music and keep the beat. You can then add arms to get them multi-tasking to build co-ordination.
**Dynamics or energy in face----have students dance their combo or small set of counts mouthing in their face the vowels in the alphabet..have students watch each other to pick the best facial expressions that go with the mood of the piece.

3. Transition/Sequencing Movement
**

4. Flexibility and Strengthening
**Static Positions**
a. straddle sit—sit in V with back straight, arms parallel to legs
i. Intermediate level—put elbows on the ground in “tv sit” while keeping chin up and back straight
ii. Advanced---stomach flat on the ground—legs in straddle splits
**Stride Support---walking step with both feet facing same direction, put hands by foot. Try to kiss knee for i. Intermediate level
iii. Advanced level—raise front toe and reach further out in front of foot.

5. Turns
**Chenne turn exercise----spot and step in demi-plie al a second to the right, half turn through first —repeat demi second with the left foot facing back wall. Repeat second demi back toward starting position stepping with right foot to half turn then left. Repeat starting Left.
Dance talk---second first (half turn) second, first & back to centre
i. Intermediate—add full chenne turn
ii. Advanced----add doubles, triples OR—start the combo working through beginner-through to Advanced
***Pirouette Exercise---this exercise will slow the single turn down so that the dancer gains more control over a clean single pirouette.
-Starting with right or left—have dancer ball change into passé (NO RELEVE) and hold to the front
-Next ball change with a Passé Releve—hold
-ball change passé releve with quarter turn—hold
-ball change passé releve with half turn (facing back wall)
-ball change passé releve ¾ turn—hold
-Ball change---SINGLE PIOURETTE
Repeat LEFT!

6. Jumps
** simple jete (stride)----killer across the floor exercise!
Have dancers jump from each foot in extended jete as if they are leaping over logs. There is NO chasse in between jumps. This is a great exercise that then makes chasse jete seem a lot easier!

7. Levels
*** levels of focus for the head—these levels can have the head turned in each direction—it doesn’t have to be straight ahead!
a. Floor—eyes and head looking down at dancer’s floor space
b. Feet—eyes and focus on the first row of audience member’s “feet”
c. Horizon---looking straight
d. Heavens—looking up
e. Outer Space----looking through roof


TOP 5 Favourite Warm-up songs

-Back Street Boys---“I want it that way”
-Kylie Minogue—“Na Na Na”
-Justin Timberlake “Love Stoned”
-Madonna –any song from her Immaculate Collection—these songs are great for jazz skills
-Madonna “Four Minutes”

Great Lyrical Songs---“Hard to Breathe” Ne-Yo
---“How Do I Breathe” Mario Barrett
---“Bleeding Love” Leona Lewis
---“Hands” Jewel
---“Collide” Howie Day