WELLNESS DANCE STEPS
WELLNESS DANCE STEPS
Mix drills and skills with simple dance routines to engage 7- to 12-year-olds.
Call it dance. Call it exercise. When kids move to music, they call it fun! Kids’ fitness programs are gaining momentum in schools, community centers, dance studios, gymnastics facilities and health clubs. Maybe now is the time for you to bring your fitness expertise and love of music and movement to the next generation of lifelong exercisers.
Whether you want to teach a dance-specific program or a mixed-activity class that incorporates dance movement, you don’t have to be a professional choreographer to design memorable, entertaining routines that keep kids motivated. The following simple formulas will help you create a library of “dances” that incorporate cardiovascular conditioning, strength intervals, skill training and partner fun. Choose the option that best fits your personal dance ability and get those kids moving!
Kids Wanna Dance! Details
Format: An activity session for boys and girls 7- to 12-years-old. A 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio is ideal. Instructors experienced with this age group (e.g., elementary-school teachers) may be comfortable with a ratio of 15:1 or more.
Total Time: 45–60 minutes
Equipment Needed: None required. Hula-Hoops, BOSU® Balance Trainers and resistance tubing are optional.
Music: Choose a wide variety of positive, catchy, energetic songs from several genres such as pop, hip-hop, Latin, swing, disco, classical and country. The kids will likely enjoy most the songs they’ve never heard before (from other generations). Screen songs for appropriate language and subject matter, especially when choosing from pop and hip-hop numbers.
Choreography Formulas
Choose one of the following formulas as part of a general mixed-activity class, or string them together to create a custom session.
Skill Sampler. This is an easy way to warm up the class while gauging students’ abilities and discovering what kind of music excites them. First,
Mix drills and skills with simple dance routines to engage 7- to 12-year-olds.
Call it dance. Call it exercise. When kids move to music, they call it fun! Kids’ fitness programs are gaining momentum in schools, community centers, dance studios, gymnastics facilities and health clubs. Maybe now is the time for you to bring your fitness expertise and love of music and movement to the next generation of lifelong exercisers.
Whether you want to teach a dance-specific program or a mixed-activity class that incorporates dance movement, you don’t have to be a professional choreographer to design memorable, entertaining routines that keep kids motivated. The following simple formulas will help you create a library of “dances” that incorporate cardiovascular conditioning, strength intervals, skill training and partner fun. Choose the option that best fits your personal dance ability and get those kids moving!
Kids Wanna Dance! Details
Format: An activity session for boys and girls 7- to 12-years-old. A 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio is ideal. Instructors experienced with this age group (e.g., elementary-school teachers) may be comfortable with a ratio of 15:1 or more.
Total Time: 45–60 minutes
Equipment Needed: None required. Hula-Hoops, BOSU® Balance Trainers and resistance tubing are optional.
Music: Choose a wide variety of positive, catchy, energetic songs from several genres such as pop, hip-hop, Latin, swing, disco, classical and country. The kids will likely enjoy most the songs they’ve never heard before (from other generations). Screen songs for appropriate language and subject matter, especially when choosing from pop and hip-hop numbers.
Choreography Formulas
Choose one of the following formulas as part of a general mixed-activity class, or string them together to create a custom session.
Skill Sampler. This is an easy way to warm up the class while gauging students’ abilities and discovering what kind of music excites them. First,