Off the Wall Dances for young children
2 - 8 year olds

by Gary & Carol Crees

Contents
Introduction
About the Authors
 

Volume One
Introduction

Folk dancing has many learning implications for children. It increases body awareness, gross motor skills, social and emotional as well as physical development. So, it is a whole person activity. It encourages cognitive and language development, is a means of self expression and social contact. It is a wonderful way to explore the great diversity of our multicultural heritage and of course is fun and relaxing.

PLEASE NOTE

We have put easier dances earlier and more challenging dances later. However, there are easy activities for the later dances that would still suit very young children. Don't worry if completing the dance is beyond your groups ability. They will still enjoy the variety of music. Where possible, it is always best to lead up to a dance with activities that familiarise the children with the music and build the skills needed for the dance. The beginning activities are suggestions for doing this. They are just some suggestions that we've tried. Invent your own or let the children suggest ways of improvising, but most of all experiment and have FUN!

PERFORMANCE SUGGESTIONS

If you'd like your children perform some dances, here are a few ideas to keep in mind. Choose dances to perform that are within the children's ability range. Simplify a dance if necessary. Don't have too many parts for the children to remember, they will be distracted once they have an audience. Dance with the children, young children need a role model. Make sure any costumes you use will not hinder the children's movements and will not fall off as they dance. Practice the dances but don't kill the children's enjoyment by over rehearsing.

COSTUME SUGGESTIONS

Costumes can be made very simply but still look effective. You could even involve the children in making some costumes. A simple way to begin is to have the children wear a uniform colour, e.g. white t-shirt, shorts or skirt. Then add to this something appropriate to each particular dance. A circular cardboard hat is quite effective for a Chinese Dance. In European Dances you can use scarves for girls and paper or cardboard hats for boys. Aprons and vests can be made of crepe or other coloured paper or material. German Dances could be done in braces that the children decorate themselves. Sashes for the waist or streamers for the wrists are also effective. If you have parents or teachers who sew you could make simple white blouses, bright coloured skirts and shirts, baggy trousers and aprons to suit most dances. Try local op-shops for old sheets and curtains etc that can be made into aprons, skirts, scarves and borders on skirts. Look for braid for decorating clothes. Ask at warehouses and fabric shops for samples and remnants. These can be added for great effects.

Originally released © 1993.
Music rerecorded for CD release & Teachers Book updated, January 2000.
Dances collected & adapted by Carol. Teachers notes by Carol.
Music adapted, arranged, notated and recorded by Gary.
All music traditional except Singasongalong written by Gary & Carol Crees © 1993.

Illustrations by Lois Burnes, Mel Clancy, Florence Epper, John Grimau & Shannon McIntyre Crees.
Many thanks to Catherine Kagan, Leslie Williams & Lisa Nye for their invaluable assistance and suggestions with this book.

This resource kit is dedicated to the spirit of reconciliation, tolerance and harmony between all the various wonderful cultures represented in Australia today.

Contents - 24 pages

.

Song

Country

Time

.

Acknowledgements/Introduction

.

Biography

1

Round in the Ring

Israel

3'36"

2

Pop goes the Weasel

England

1'52"

3

Singasongalong

Australia

3'33"

4

Little Bird Dance Slower

Austria

3'17"

5

Little Bird Dance Faster

Austria

2'58"

6

Doudlebska Polka

Czechoslovakia

4'15"

7

Minoesjka

Russia

3'2"

8

Boanopstekker

Holland

2'48"

9

Hammersmith

Germany

2'18"

10

Satu Dua

Indonesia

3'06"

11

Jack and Peter

France

4'03"

12

Kungsi

China

2'16"

13

Ku Ku Ku Chi Chi

Germany

2'31"

14

Hava Nagila

Israel

2'46"

.

Suggested Resources List

.

Music notation for the Dances

The Authors

Gary & Carol Crees

Gary & Carol are trained teachers with many years of experience performing & leading groups in early childhood, school & family gatherings in N.S.W.
They are accredited performers with the N.S.W. Dept. of Ed. in recognition of consistent, quality educational performances.

Adventures in Music & Off the Wall Dances are their most recent performances.

Leading workshops in music, dance & singing is something that Gary & Carol enjoy particularly at early childhood level. Producing tapes & resources for teachers is a current enterprise that is keeping Gary & Carol busy. These resources include Singasongalon, Ready or Not! Dances for Young Children & a new collection, Songs from Around the World for Young Children. Recent highlights in their career have been leading workshops for groups such as Continuing Education, Macquarie University, Macleay College, Bankstown TA.F.E., Milperra T.A.F.E., Macarthur Migrant Resource Centre, Orff Schulwerk National Conference & M.E.I.S. Conference.

Gary has wide ranging musical abilities gained from a career that has seen him working as a professional performer, composer & arranger & musical director. This new production uses all his diverse skills & all from home!

Carol's interests are in multicultural dance & music for Early Childhood. Selecting appropriate songs & finding ways to move, sing & play to that music have given her a challenge & a lot of fun during the compilation of this tape.

 

Back to VOSA Home Page