Can you help me with dance moves for little kids? EXPERIENCED ONLY!?

Question

Ok I am choreographing a whole dance for little kids for the second time in dance camp. I have no help, and the other team has 2 older girls, although they are not as experienced as me (this will be my 14th year of dance). I have choreographed 1/4 of the dance so far and we got together today for the first time. They think it is too hard so I racked my brain trying to remember what the little kids did in the beginning jazz class from when I would sub. I changed the part that they thought was too hard into something easier, and now I cannot think of anything else to do. If you are an experienced jazz dancer/teacher, what moves do you think would be good for kids ranging from 6 years (and no experience) to 15. Not many of them have had much experience in jazz but they love it. Oh, and I am doing it to WALKING ON SUNSHINE by ALY AND AJ.

Answer 1

Ew. Jazz? No experience? Must perform? Very tricky.

I think, like somebody mentioned before, you would have more luck incorporating more street dance and hip-hop into the routine. Theatre jazz has so many lines to hit... is very technically demanding... but, you can still manage it. You would just have to keep it simple.

With a large group of kids, unity is what you MUST HAVE. Otherwise, it looks really bad. So, I would recommend jazz walks and grapevines, and try to get everybody moving their arms together. Pas de bourree is also fairly understandable for kids new to dance, as are chaine turns, step tap, etc. All very overdone, but if this is an experienced audience, no matter.

Then, mid-dance, split it into two groups, where one group dances, and then the other moves in and dances, and then they reunite. Again, I know this is way overdone, but inexperienced audiences don't know this, and parents love it because it is easier to see their child on stage. This would also give you a chance to separate the six year olds from the fifteen year olds, and cater to each group during these sub-dances.

Answer 2

R you sure you want to teach them jazz?bcoz as you said they have no experience, so if that's the case of my students I will be teaching them street dancing or hip hop. It will be a lot easier for them and they should be having fun while learning. For me I should know their knowledge about dancing little children now a days knows how to dance. If some of them can back flip or even a char twirl is an advantage. Work with your assets, maybe it needs a little polishing. Or combining hip hop with jazz for a twist and new favor. Explore, dance is limitless, your the only one who puts a fence. Hope I helped you and have a great time.

Answer 3

I'm really not experienced, I've only watched my little cousin dance for 7 years (she's 9 now.) But in their last competition they had a section where they did a "cha-cha" type movement with little twirls and jazz hands (If that's what they're really called) that sort of reminded me of a swing move.

They also did stuff where they sat on the ground and would do splits with their legs in the air, but in three groups so it looked like a wave.

Answer 4

Box steps are good. They usually like saches, but sometimes not everyone can get it. Try simple turns like crossing right-over-left and unwinding. Step-touch is easy and when paired with jazz-hands or waving arms can look good. A jump that's kind of like a Russian (but more like a jumping-jack in the air) is easy and fun. Also, most kids can get a basic chaine.

Unfortunately, lots of the stuff they teach in Jazz I doesn't always look great onstage. Some basic moves are basic jetes, chaines, front kicks, and jazz walks.

Answer 5

Conceptual Choreography!!!! Please, let them make up their own movements telling a story with their bodies! It works wonders for their self esteem as well, and all you have to do is guide and hone it a bit, let them use their OWN expression with their physical form, not some re-hashed over-practiced, stiff and souless jazz moves...you'll see a lot more spirit light up in their eyes and a lot more interesting, AUTHENTIC dance expression. If there's no story to the dance-why are you doing it? You could get them to re-enact a work-out video from the eighties and it would be about as creative as "jazz" moves!!!

Answer 6

Try having them step up and kind of pop their body forward and then step back and pop their body back. Then, maybe you could have the younger ones do any kind of move you can think of, and the older ones (about thirteen-fifteen) you can teach them to do Baby Freeze. Baby Freeze is my favorite move. Just get on your knees, point your right hand toward your right leg, tuck your elbo into your hip, point your left hand away from your left leg, put your right side of your head flat on the ground, push off with your legs, and balance on your hands and face. It's really easy, but also very impressive.

Answer 7

jazz hands and winks