Workshops
Creating a Dynamic Learning Community
with Dance, Song, and Storytelling
Tues, Wed, Thurs, June 26, 27, 28, 2007
Dear Arlington teachers,
Thank you for your consistently enthusiastic participation in our three-day workshop last week. We really enjoyed working with you.
Remember your homework: go to an evening dance. There is a lot of folk and contra dancing in the greater Arlington area. We particularly recommend going to a contra dance. The Girl Scout House in the center of Concord, MA has a contra dance every Monday and every Thursday from 7:30 - 11:30 pm, as well as other dances on most Saturdays.
You can find information on both of these dances at:
Here below is a list of all the dances, singing games, songs, stories, and picture books we presented to you. Almost everything we did that is not in your handout we will provide to you as a downloadable pdf.
TUESDAY
Birds at the Dawning (Notes p. 31)
Song in 3-part harmony. Try this at an all school sing with guitar
or piano accompaniment, singing the melody in unison.
Blaydon Races (Notes p. 16)
In NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk book and CD.
We like using Assembly’s Coming Dawn or Old Favorite on
NEDM’s Other Side of the Tracks CD, or use any jig medley.
Galopede (Notes p. 17)
In NEDM’s Chimes
of Dunkirk book and CD.
Mary Alice played accordion for this. If you have live music you can
play the final B2 music over again at the very end of the dance as each top
couple successively sashays down the middle to the bottom while all the outside
couples continue to move up the sides. This a great dance for ending
a community dance.
Singing/All School Sing
Every all school sing is as different as every school. An all school sing can be run by the principal, by the music teacher, by a committee of teachers or a group of parents, or by a student/staff committee. The more people invested in organizing the all-school sing the more successful it will be.
All I Really Need (Notes p. 1)
On the Amidons’ CD All I Really Need.
This is our anthem: we sing this at almost every assembly program and teacher
workshop.
Storytelling Intro into Songs
Fox Went Out on Chilly Night (Notes p. 4)
Chiney Doll (Notes p. 1)
(Sam tells Chiney doll story at 2)
Picture Books
(Notes p. 32, 33, 34)
I Live in Music
Summertime
Singing Games
Tree Song (Notes p. 23)
In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book and CD.
Peter likes to introduce this with a story about Roger (the same Roger who
is the Chiney Doll’s Eliza’s grandfather) and his singing apple
trees. We don’t teach this, we just do it and have the children imitate
us; first without, and then with the CD.
Old Brass Wagon (Notes p. 22)
In NEDM’s Down
in the Valley book and CD.
This can be done as a singing game or as a dance with the recording or as
a dance to your own piano or guitar or accordion playing. Have the
children make up their own motions.
BREAK
All School Sing
County Life (Notes p. 2)
On All I Really Need CD.
This is one of our favorite classic all school sing songs.
Now It’s Time to Go (Notes p. 3)
On All I Really Need CD.
We know a few music teachers who end every class with this song which can
be sung simply in unison or as a two or three part round.
Great Big Star (Notes p. 4)
On Faerie’s Gift CD.
This is a great song for solos. Have three different children sing
the Great big star part of the song with the rest of the children
echoing back Way over yonder.
Kindergarten Wall (Notes p. 8)
On I’ll Never Forget CD.
We have discovered that older children, 4th and 5th graders, love this song
as well as the younger children.
First Dance for Young Children
Kindergarten Reel (Notes p. 17)
In NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird book (not the CD).
You accompany this dance with anything: piano, recorder, saxophone, anything!
Teaching Dance Basics (Notes p. 15)
On NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk DVD.
- Mittens, taking hands, posture, forward and back, circle left, right, promenade (inside/outside), dosido into two hand turn into promenade, going from promenade into a circle.
- La Bastringue (clapping 1st of each 8 beats, doing dance with hands, calling the dance.)
- Kings and Queens
LUNCH
Song
With My Own Two Hands (Notes p. 13)
Storytelling
Faerie’s Gift
On Faerie’s Gift CD.
Mary Alice told this and then had you do: Sayback and Peter led Acting Out the story.
Singing Games
Down in the Valley (Notes p. 27)
In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD.
Going to Alberta (Notes p. 26)
In upcoming NEDM collection Sashay the Donut.)
A great way to teach both the polka step and the waltz position.
Discussion: Dance Management/Community Dance
Picture Books
(Notes p. 32, 33, 34)
Johnny Appleseed (song: Notes p. 6)
Call My Hand Gentle
Terrible Monster
Storytelling
Jack & Devil’s Three Golden Hairs #1
For school tellings of this I change the Devil into a giant, and keep the rest of the story exactly the same.
Dancing
Heel & Toe Polka (Notes p. 17)
In NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk book & CD.
A great first circle mixer for young children. It can even work with 1st
grade or Kindergarten. I usually omit the right hand turn and go directly
from the clapping to the pass right shoulders.
Black Joke (“Hey Ho Diddley Dum”)
(Notes p. 18)
In NEDM’s Chimes
of Dunkirk book & CD.
This can be tricky with a class of, say, 20, because the circle is so small. It
actually works better in a community dance where each child, say, 2nd grade
and under, must dance with an adult or older child partner. It is helpful to
precede this dance with Heel & Toe Polka to teach the pass right
shoulders figure.
Larry’s Mixer
In NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird book & CD
Formation: double circle
Music: any jig or reel
I used The Coming Dawn from NEDM’s Other Side of the Tracks CD.
A1: Dosido partner
Allemand left left-hand person
A2: Seesaw partner
Allemand right right-hand person
B1: Swing or two-hand turn (crossed hands) partner
B2: Promenade. Progress (gents move forward to new partner while promenading).
Final Songs
Thing That Makes You Beautiful (Notes p. 29)
In Beatitudes-Amidon Choral Arrangements book & CD
Now It’s Time to Go (Notes p. 3)
WEDNESDAY
Dancing
Circassian Circle (Notes p. 16)
In NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird book & CD.
Great first circle mixer for 4th grade and up.
Rural Felicity (Notes p. 17)
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD
Lovely simple yet engaging dance for a community dance.
Simple Square (Notes p. 18)
In NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk book & CD
This is a good early square dance for 4th graders and up, especially if they
have already danced Howdja Do (see below)
Down Down Baby (Notes p. 24)
In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD
Many children already know a version of this.
Singing/School Choruses
Busy Monday Morning (Notes p. 2)
On All I Really Need CD.
I often introduce this with a story.
Owl and Pussycat (Notes p. 10)
On Faerie’s Gift CD.
And I always introduce this with a story.
What a Wonderful World (with motions)
(Notes p. 12) On Faerie’s
Gift CD
Try having the children collaboratively make up motions for this song in
the classroom or at an all-school sing.
Picture Books/Cycle of Life
(Notes p. 32,33, 34)
Miss Bridey Chose a Shovel
Day You were born
Love Me Tender
Yonder
Song
I’m Growing Up by Mary Alice
Sorry, we have not yet written this out. If you want it send me an e-mail
and maybe I’ll get to it sometime this summer.
I'm growing up
way way up
I'm growing up with hopes and dreams
to make my way in the world
Dance Classics 1
Roger is Dead (Notes p. 23)
In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD.
I often introduce this with a story.
Chimes of Dunkirk (Notes p. 19)
In NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk book & CD
This is a fantastic community dance. I often use it as the first or
second dance of the evening.
Sasha (Notes p. 25)
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD
The mp3 is available on NEDM’s website:
www.dancingmasters.com click
on "New Dances," and get your favorite teenager to download it and burn it
onto a CD for you. Wonderful for all ages: K through college and beyond,
and great for a community dance.
BREAK
Dance classics continued
Highland Gates (Notes p. 21)
In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD
Sometimes I start a community dance with this. Note there are several ways
to do the dance described in Down in the Valley.
When I Was a Baby
In NEDM’s Jump Jim Joe book & CD
Jump Jim Joe (Notes p. 22)
In NEDM’s Jump Jim Joe book & CD
We often end a community dance with this simple mixer.
Old King Glory (Notes p. 28)
In NEDM’s Jump Jim Joe book & CD
Children will request this over and over again.
Thorn Rosa (Notes p. 25)
In NEDM’s Jump Jim
Joe book & CD
Of course you should tell them this story. I tell it with the children in
their usual storytelling formation: sitting in a bunch on the floor. I
punctuate the story with the verses from the song.
Singing
Say What You Want (Notes p. 3)
On Keys to the Kingdom CD
This Pretty Planet (Notes p. 7)
On This Pretty Planet CD (temporarily out of print)
Silver Rain (unison) (Notes p. 6)
On This Pretty Planet CD (temporarily out of print)
You can replace and say a grace with with thankful heart if
you want.
Picture Books
(Notes p. 32, 33, 34)
Mother Earth
When the Forest Meets the Sea
Dancing
Bridge of Athlone (Notes p. 16)
In NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird book & CD
Howdja Do
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD.
This is simply La Bastringue (Notes p. 16) but replace B1 with:
Allemand left corner, dosido partner, allemand left corner. Do this,
and then teach Simple Square.
Harmony Singing
Silver Rain (SATB) (Notes p. 30)
In Beatitudes-Amidon Choral Arrangements book & CD
LUNCH
Singing Games
At the Bottom of the Sea (Notes p. 24)
In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD.
We find this most successful with 1st & 2nd grades.
I Let Her Go Go (Notes p. 22)
In NEDM’s Down
in the Valley book & CD.
Civil Rights
We did these first three songs by ear; sorry we do not have them written down:
Dog Dog De Dog
Woke Up This Morning
Eyes on the Prize
Martin Luther King (Notes p. 9)
On All I Really Need CD.
Children’s Miracle
A ballad by Peter.
You can get a pdf and an mp3 of this at Children'sMiracle.html
Sources:
book: Parting of the Waters by Taylor Branch
video: The Children’s March published by Southern Poverty Law Center
Voting Song (Notes p. 5)
On I’ll Never Forget CD
Storytelling
Retell/Act Out Devil 1
You guys were wonderful in all of your acting out. Do try this with children. You
can expect it to be wonderful if a bit chaotic.
Tell Devil 2
This story is called The Devil’s Three Hairs in Grimm’s
Fairytales.
Dancing
Haste to the Wedding (Notes p. 19)
In NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk book & CD.
A wonderful first contra dance for 5th graders and up. Have you gone
to a contra dance yet!?!?
Durham Reel (Notes p. 18)
The dreamy music we used for this is Slow G from Assembly’s
CD January EP. We will be including that same cut on our upcoming
NEDM CD Sashay the Donut.
Final Songs
Take Time in Life
By ear, sorry we do not have this written down. From Liberia.
Now It’s Time to Go (Notes p. 3)
On All I Really Need CD.
THURSDAY
Dancing
Shoofly, levels 1, 2, 3 (notes p. 28)
In NEDM’s Jump Jim Joe book & CD
Level 1 is in the handout.
Level 2 is: Forward and back twice. Then you or one of the children
lead straight across the circle and under an arch, pulling the whole circle
through that arch. It
helps if the arching couple move in the opposite direction from you. The
circle is turned inside out. Then all sing: “Oooohhhhhhh” while
dropping hands, raising hands in the air, turning around to face the center,
and taking hands again.
Level 3: Forward and back twice. Then you AND an adjacent dancer move forward
across the center and go through and arch. You and your cohort immediately
raise your held hand in an arch, and, turning back to back, go under your
own arch, and, continuing to turn until you are facing your partner again,
pull the rest of the circle (that is moving under the arch you already went
through) through your arch as well. It is nice to make your arch be
right next to the first arch, and for you and the other three arching dancers
to move in the opposite direction from the folks going through the arch. The
circle ends up as it began.
Zip It Up (Notes p. 19)
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD
This dance takes a three-part tune. I think we used ‘Reel de
Rimouski’ from ‘Any Jig or Reel’. I often do this dance
at a community dance. You sometimes need to let go of the phrasing
of the music and let the dancers get through the figures at their own pace.
Circle Waltz Mixer
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD
A wonderful dance for a wedding. I have also done this at a community dance. I always teach it while dancing it, as it is much easier to demonstrate than to describe many of the figures. In a community dance the gents are called ‘posts’ and the ladies are called ‘movers’ or ‘swingers’, and I have everyone do a two hand turn once around instead of waltzing.
Monterey Detour
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD
This is a slightly more sophisticated contra dance than Haste to the
Wedding (Notes p. 19).
Here are the instructions:
Formation: contra dance
Music: any jig or reel
A1: #1’s split the #2’s and go down in lines of four.
All turn alone and walk back up in lines
of four.
A2: Circle right, circle left
B1: Dosido neighbor, swing neighbor
B2: Long lines forward and back.
#1’s swing in center.
#1’s end swing facing down, ready to split
new twos for the opening of the dance.
Discussion
Contra dancing/teen dancing
Although I mostly get hired to teach dance to K-6 communities, these dances are even better for high school students. My favorite group to lead dancing for is the Brattleboro high school band/chorus, a group of about ninety. They ask for dancing every year.
Singing
Walk a Mile
On Faerie’s Gift CD
Sorry, we do not have this transcribed.
Dreams to Be
Picture Book/Storytelling
(Notes p. 32, 33, 34)
First Strawberry
Anansi & Six Sons/Planet Drum
Dancing
Gramma Moses (Notes p. 20)
In NEDM”s Down in the Valley book & CD
Alabama Gal (Notes p. 21)
In NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk book & CD.
One of the great classics. Teach this first as a singing game; once
they know it well, do it with the CD. I encourage the children to ‘power
walk’ around the cast off and under the arch in order to get back home
in time for the start of the music, especially if the sets are longer than
five couples.
Lucky Seven (Notes p. 16)
In NEDM’s Chimes
of Dunkirk book & CD.
This is a great dance for teaching the grand right and left. Some of
the preparatory exercises:
- Ladies crouch and gents weave around the circle.
- Gents crouch and ladies weave around the circle with an alternating right and left hand ‘assist' from the crouching gents.
- All face center and, standing in place, do a mock
grand right and left just with arms reaching
out in front: 1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5, 6, 7, starting
and finishing with the right arm.
- Do the above exercise again but this time taking two steps in place for every arm move.
BREAK
Song/Picture Book
(Notes p. 32, 33, 34)
Owl Moon
Storytelling
Common folktales children should hear
(Little Red Riding Hood, Three Bears, etc.)
Tell them these stories, and others. Try telling stories from your
own childhood experiences.
Nyangara
Retold Nyangara in groups of 3-4
Dancing
Sashay the Donut (Notes p. 20)
Creating an Original Dance
Congratulations; this is a really wonderful dance:
Arlington Cotillion
Formation: Circle Mixer
Music: Any jig or reel
A1: Forward and back
Dosido partner
A2: Seesaw neighbor
Two hand turn (crossed hands) partner
B1: Promenade
Progress (gents move up to new partner)
B2: Promenade more
Forward and back
Do try making up dances with your students! They really take ownership of dances they have created themselves.
LUNCH
Singing
Flower Carol (Notes p. 31)
I discovered that this is a great song to do with children. I had some
3rd and 4th graders perform it at a Mayfest last spring.
Story
Eye of the Needle
Dancing
Grumpy March
In NEDM’s upcoming Sashay the Donut book & CD
First Night Quadrille (Notes. p. 16)
In NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird book & CD
Storytelling
Retell/Act Out Devil #2
Finish telling Jack and Devil’s Three Golden Hairs
Harmony Singing Review
Silver Rain (Notes p. 30)
Thing That Makes You Beautiful (Notes p. 29)
Final Dance
Sicilian Vowel Dance (Notes p. 20)
In NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird book & CD.
A beautiful dance for those who can handle it: 6th graders with some dance
experience, a community dance with a healthy smattering of good dancers.
The key teaching point is getting the counterclockwise facing dancers to always start moving towards the inside of the circle and the clockwise facing dancers to start moving towards the outside of the circle.
I do this by having all the dancers point to their own left. Those pointing towards the middle of the circle are the ‘inside’ dancers, those pointing towards the outside are the ‘outside’ dancers.
Final Songs
What a Wonderful World (Notes p. 12)
Now It’s Time to Go (Notes p. 3)