Following popular demand, we hosted a magical Frozen (inspired) Dance Camp! Understanding the needs of dance studios, especially when catering to younger age groups, we opted for a half-day camp structure, running for four to five days a week from 9 am to noon. Each year, we select a captivating theme to weave through our lessons, culminating in a delightful impromptu performance for family and friends on the final day.
Our Frozen-inspired camp was designed for our Princess age group (ages 4-7) and took place at the end of June. The response was overwhelming, leading us to close registration a week early! Interestingly, our July Princess Camp attendance was only half of the Frozen Camp’s, highlighting the theme’s incredible appeal.
To help you create your own enchanting dance camp, we’re sharing our resources across a few key areas. This post focuses on the music that brought our Frozen camp to life, including some lyrical dance song selections perfect for inspiring young dancers. We’ll also cover crafts and games & activities in separate posts.
Smiling young dancer in blue dress, posing during Frozen dance camp
General Camp Schedule
To give you an idea of our camp structure, here’s a glimpse at our daily agenda:
8:50-9:05am – Parent Drop-off and Student Sign-in
9:05-9:30am – Warm-up and Icebreaker Activities: We love using the Name Game to help everyone get comfortable and learn each other’s names.
9:30-10:00am – Ballet Dance Class: Focusing on foundational technique and learning fun choreography.
10:00-10:45am – Craft Time: Creative projects tied to the Frozen theme.
10:45-11:00am – Snack Time: A quick break to refuel and recharge.
11:00-11:40am – Tap Class: Exploring rhythm and sound with tap dance choreography.
11:40-12:00pm – Games & Cool-down: Ending the day with fun games and a gentle cool-down.
“Frozen” Dance Camp Playlist: Incorporating Lyrical Dance Songs
It will come as no surprise that the Frozen album was a central part of our Frozen-inspired dance camp! Its soundtrack is filled with songs that lend themselves beautifully to movement and storytelling. However, to keep things fresh and ensure the teachers maintained their sanity, we also incorporated non-Frozen songs that fit the magical and whimsical theme.
When thinking about Lyrical Dance Songs for a young age group, it’s important to select music that is not only age-appropriate in terms of content but also in tempo and emotional tone. For our Frozen camp, we looked for songs that evoked feelings of wonder, friendship, and a touch of winter magic. While the term “lyrical dance” might typically refer to a more mature dance style, the core elements of lyrical dance – expressing emotion through fluid, graceful movements – can be introduced even to young children.
Songs We Used for Choreography (with Lyrical Dance Song Potential):
For choreography, we naturally leaned into the Frozen soundtrack. Tracks like “Let It Go,” while iconic, can be a bit fast for very young dancers focusing on lyrical movement. Instead, we found success with:
- “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”: This song offers a beautiful narrative and varied tempo, allowing for storytelling through dance. The slower sections are perfect for introducing expressive, lyrical arm movements and gestures that convey the longing and eventual joy in the song’s story.
- “For the First Time in Forever”: While upbeat, this song has moments of anticipation and excitement that can be translated into joyful, expansive movements. We focused on the hopeful and optimistic feel of the song, encouraging dancers to express these emotions through their bodies.
- “In Summer”: Despite being about summer, the whimsical and slightly comical nature of Olaf’s song provided a fun contrast and allowed for lighter, more playful lyrical interpretations. Think gentle, flowing movements that contrast with the lyrics about summer heat, creating a fun, theatrical piece.
Songs We Used in Class (for Creative Movement, Games, and Technique – Expanding Beyond “Frozen”):
To broaden our musical landscape and subtly introduce different styles, including elements that could inspire future lyrical dance exploration, we incorporated non-Frozen songs that maintained the camp’s overall atmosphere:
- Instrumental versions of Disney songs: These offer familiar melodies without lyrics, allowing for more focus on movement and interpretation. Instrumental versions of songs from “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” or even other Frozen tracks can be excellent for ballet technique exercises, encouraging graceful and controlled movements which are foundational to lyrical dance.
- Classical pieces with a gentle, flowing quality: Think Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” or some of Chopin’s waltzes. These pieces introduce children to beautiful, expressive music that naturally inspires lyrical movement. They are perfect for creative movement exercises where children are encouraged to interpret the music through their own dance.
- Songs from other animated films with themes of magic or nature: Soundtracks from films like “Anastasia,” “The Swan Princess,” or even some songs from Studio Ghibli films (English dubbed versions where appropriate) can offer variety while maintaining a magical feel. Look for songs with a moderate tempo and emotional depth that can inspire expressive movement.
By carefully selecting a mix of familiar and new songs, and by thinking about how each piece can inspire different types of movement, you can create a rich and engaging musical experience for your dance camp. Even in a themed camp like “Frozen,” there’s room to introduce the foundational concepts of lyrical dance through thoughtful song choices and creative choreography.
Group of young dancers in Frozen costumes, posing happily at dance camp
What are some of your favorite age-appropriate songs, including lyrical dance songs, for children’s dance camps? We’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below!
