Folk dancing offers a fantastic avenue for elementary students to engage with music and movement. Building upon previous discussions on sequencing movement, this guide delves into how to effectively introduce folk dances to children, ensuring a fun and enriching experience. Drawing inspiration from resources like Phyllis Weikart’s “Teaching Movement and Dance” and the New England Dancing Masters, we’ll explore various categories of folk dances suitable for different age groups and skill levels, making Childrens Dancing Music an active and joyful part of their learning journey.
Types of Folk Dances for Children
Organizing folk dances into categories can simplify the selection process and ensure a balanced curriculum. Here’s a breakdown of common folk dance types perfect for elementary childrens dancing music programs:
Leader-Follower Dances
Leader dances are excellent for fostering coordination and group dynamics. In these dances, one child takes the lead, guiding a group through a series of movements. This not only promotes individual confidence but also encourages observation and imitation skills among the followers.
- At the Bottom of the Sea: This traditional dance is simple and imaginative, allowing children to interpret sea-themed movements freely while following the leader.
- Canavalito: From Phyllis Weikart, Canavalito introduces a structured leader dance with rhythmic steps, enhancing coordination and musicality.
- Haya Ze Basedeh: Inspired by Brian Burnett and utilizing the Rhythmically Moving recording, Haya Ze Basedeh is a dynamic leader dance. Children line up behind a leader who initiates movements for 20 beats, after which the line reverses, and a new leader emerges. The “statues” formed by previous leaders add an element of playful obstacle navigation, particularly engaging for 2nd and 3rd graders.
Circle Dances
Circle dances are foundational in many cultures and provide a sense of unity and shared experience. They are perfect for younger children as they often involve repetitive and easy-to-learn steps performed in a group circle, making childrens dancing music accessible to all.
- Jump Josie: A New England Dancing Masters classic, Jump Josie is an energetic circle dance with simple jumps and steps, ideal for getting kids moving and grooving.
- Yankee Doodle: Phyllis Weikart’s Yankee Doodle (original version from editions 1-5) is a fantastic introduction to circle dances. Its straightforward sequence of jumps, steps, and “music squats” (down/up movements) makes it easy for young learners to grasp rhythm and spatial awareness.
- 8 jumps
- 8 steps counter clockwise
- 4 music squats (down/up)
- 4 steps in / 4 steps out
- Irish Stew: Another Weikart gem, Irish Stew adds a bit more complexity with varied steps and patterns within the circle formation, challenging children while keeping the fun alive.
- Seven Jumps: Seven Jumps is a cumulative dance where a new jump is added with each repetition, building memory and coordination in a fun and engaging way.
Partner Dances
Partner dances introduce collaboration and interaction into childrens dancing music. Working with a partner helps develop social skills, spatial awareness in relation to another person, and synchronized movement.
- Sasha: A delightful dance from New England Dancing Masters, Sasha involves simple partner steps and formations, fostering teamwork and gentle interaction.
- Fjaskern: Weikart’s Fjaskern is a lively partner dance with a polka feel, encouraging rhythmic movement and coordination between partners.
- Heel Toe Polka: New England Dancing Masters’ Heel Toe Polka is a classic partner dance that introduces the polka step in a manageable way for elementary students, enhancing their rhythmic and coordination skills.
- Sashay the Donut: This NEDM dance is playful and imaginative, using the “donut” imagery to guide partner movements, making it a fun and memorable experience.
Longway Sets
Longway sets introduce a more formal structure to partner dancing. Arranged in lines, these dances often involve more intricate patterns and interactions across the set, offering a progression in complexity for older elementary students engaging with childrens dancing music.
- Alabama Gal: A New England Dancing Masters favorite, Alabama Gal is a lively longway set with clear calls and figures, perfect for introducing structured folk dance formations.
- Noble Duke of York: NEDM’s Noble Duke of York is a traditional longway set with recognizable marching-like movements, engaging children with historical dance forms.
- Chimes of Dunkirk: Another NEDM longway set, Chimes of Dunkirk, offers a flowing and musical experience, encouraging graceful movements and partner coordination in a line formation.
Resources for Folk Dance and Children’s Dancing Music
To further explore the world of folk dance for children and enrich your childrens dancing music curriculum, consider these valuable resources:
- Teaching Movement and Dance by Phyllis Weikart: A comprehensive book packed with folk dances, movement activities, and teaching strategies, essential for any elementary music educator.
- New England Dancing Masters (NEDM): A treasure trove of folk dance resources, including books, recordings, and workshops, specializing in traditional dances suitable for various age groups.
- Rhythmically Moving recordings: Specifically mentioned for “Haya Ze Basedeh,” these recordings provide excellent musical accompaniment for various folk dances, enhancing the childrens dancing music experience.
By incorporating these diverse types of folk dances and utilizing recommended resources, educators can create a vibrant and engaging childrens dancing music program that fosters physical activity, musicality, and cultural awareness in elementary students.
