Starter 1: Connecting shapes Dance element used: Body and space awareness Instruction: 1. In pairs, student 'A' makes a frozen shape of any kind of object, while student 'B' dances around 'A' for 8 counts 2. 'B' ends up in front of 'A' on the 8th count, and they connect somehow and freeze for 2 counts 3. Student 'A' carefully removes herself from the shape without disturbing 'B' for 2 counts 4. Repeat 1 to 3 with roles swapped. Variation The students may try out more and different interesting shapes, levels, and connections when they freeze.
Starter 2: Shadow and mirror Dance element used: Relationship awareness Instruction: 1. Students form groups of three. 2. Student 'A' faces student 'B', and student 'C' stands behind 'B'. 3. Student 'A' does action, 'B' mirrors it, and 'C' shadows 'B'. The movements will be done for 8 counts 4. After 8 counts the students change roles.
Starter 3: Mirroring Dance element used: Relationships awareness, Space Awareness, Body Awareness Instruction: In pairs, student 'A' mirrors the actions of student 'B'. Student 'B' needs to move slowly to make sure 'A' can keep up. 1. Begin by sitting and focusing on moving hands in only, in slow motion for 2 counts 2. Progressively add the rest of the body, starting with head for 2 counts and shoulders for 2 counts 3. Move onto knees, to give more upper-body movement possibilities for 2 counts 4. Move to standing position to involve the chest 2 counts, abdomen 2 counts, hips 2 counts and legs 2 counts Then repeat the whole sequence and pair change role for 3 more times.
Starter 4: Different body parts Dance element used: Body awareness Instruction: 1. The group will form a circle and will assign the first leader to lead the group 2. Each student will take turn to lead the group. All the movements will be done in 8 counts using personal space. 3. The leader my lead using any kind of movements combining movement of the following body a. Hands, shoulders, arms, legs or knees and heels Ex. flicking hands, shrugging shoulders, extending arms, bending and flexing the knees and raising the heels 4. On the first two counts the rest of the group will observe the leader and will follow on the 3 rd to 8th counts. And the next leader will take the lead for the right after the 8th count. 5. The rest of class observes the leader, and then follows the leader by repeating the action. Variation Incorporate locomotor activity with the body part isolation, such as walking clockwise around the circle while flicking wrists.
Starter 5: Follow the leader Dance elements used: Relationships awareness and Space awareness Instruction 1. In pairs one will act as the first leader. The leader stands in front of the follower. 2. While travelling in general space, the follower copies the leader's movement. The aim of this activity is for the pair to work together, so the leader must create movements that are easy to follow. 3. The dance movement will be done in 8 counts and after 8 counts the pairs will stop and will do a jump to turn to face the other way, with the follower becoming the next leader. 4. The next leader will lead using her own movements and after 8 counts the pair will stop and jump to turn the other way and face another partner. 5. The cycle will continue until everybody was able lead and follow others. Variation Use this activity to explore spatial floor pathways. Ask the leaders to explore various pathways – such as circular or zigzag – using a variety of locomotor activities.
Starter 6: Group sculptures Dance elements used: Body awareness and Relationships Awareness Instructions: 1. The students move in general space in their own ways with the music. They may use any kind of locomotor movements for 8 counts. 2. After 8 counts they have to form a sculpture or shape and freeze or be in still position for 8 counts. 3. The group will repeat the 1 and 2 for 4 more times doing moving their whole body and forming different shapes in every repetition. 4. The group should use contrasting levels and round or angular shapes. Shape variations A variety of shape can be used. Just choose those that are easier to form and will maximize the space the body itself.
