Folk Dancing, Movement, and Games - Oh My! Presented by Lauren Bain

Texas Choral Directors Association Conference July 2017

I Lost the Farmer’s Dairy Key Purpose: Singing, mixer Source: 150 American Folk Songs edited by Peter Erdei and Katalin Komlos

!Directions: Pairs - scattered; At the end of the song, all students chant “Rock, rock, paper; rock, rock, scissors; rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, GO!” They perform all the motions while chanting but at the end, each individual decides to show rock, paper, or scissors. The winner remains standing, while the loser sits down. The winners find a new partner from those standing, and continue to play until there is only one winner.

Sasha! Purpose: basic partner elements in folk dancing, mixer Source: Sashay the Donut by the New England Dancing Masters

Directions: Scattered partners Chant while shaking fist at partner: “Sasha! Sasha! Ras, dva tri!” (in Russian it means “Sasha, ready set go!”

With partner: Right, right, right Left, left, left Both, both, both Knee, knee, knee 2X

Elbow swing for 7 counts - on count 8, yell “Hey!” and pump fist in the air. Repeat with other elbow.

32 beats - find a new partner Repeat the dance!

Yankee Doodle Purpose: folk dancing, movement Source: Teaching Movement and Dance by Phyllis Weikart

Directions: Groups of 3, standing shoulder to shoulder in a circle shaped like a spoke. The person on the left of the group should be on the inside of the circle, and the person on the right should be on the outside of the circle.

Verse: walk CCW in the circle Chorus: middle partner elbow swings with one partner for 8 counts, followed by the partner for 8 counts.

Modifications: Easy: Teach this in scattered formation before moving to the circle formation. Medium: the middle person can switch out after each chorus so they don’t get too tired. It also allows others to have a turn in the middle. Hard: at the end of each chorus, the middle person moves up one set of partners, thereby making it a type of a mixer.

Day-O Purpose: free movement, moving on a specific cue Recording: “Day-O” sung by Harry Belafonte

Directions: Scattered, no partners. Students freeze when the soloist sings. Students free dance when there is more than one singer. This is a great way to assess whether or not they can identify soloists vs. ensemble.

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Alabama Gal Purpose: folk dancing, longways set Source: Chimes of Dunkirk by the New England Dancing Masters

Directions: Formation - Longways set (two long lines of partners facing each other), preferably 8 couples long.

Verse 1: First couple sashay down to the bottom of the set and back to the top. (16 counts)

Verse 2: Right hand turn with partner (8 counts) Left hand turn with partner (8 counts)

Verse 3: First couple casts off and all follow behind. First couple makes a two hand arch at the bottom of the set. (16 counts)

Verse 4: Couples meet below the arch, take hands and go under the arch and back to their place. (16 counts)

Repeat the dance with a new top couple.

Night at the Museum Purpose: free movement Recording: “Hall of the Mountain King” by Mannheim Steamroller

Directions: Students scatter and make statues that could be found in a museum. They can be alone or with others to make a statue or exhibit. There is one nightwatchman who wanders through the museum at night with a flashlight. The statues can come to life while the nightwatchman isn’t looking but if they get caught in the light of the flashlight, they are out. It is a very simple game but the students love the freedom that it allows.

Pop! Goes the Weasel Purpose: beat keeping, fun game, beloved by 5th grade boys :) Source: Traditional

Directions: Stand in a circle and pass a ball to the beat while singing the song. If the ball lands on a student when the word “pop” is sung, they are out. They must sit down but remain a part of the circle. Eventually the ball is being thrown over multiple students’ heads.

Tips: ● As a teacher, you must be vigilant during this game, not only due to the throwing

of a ball, but also due to “cheating” possibilities. ● If the ball is in the air during the word “pop”, you can do one of two things: no

one is out, or BOTH people on either side of the ball are out. ● You can eventually add 2 or 3 balls depending on the size of your group.

Contact Me Email: lfbain@gmail.com Website: www.carlschurzmusic.weebly.com Twitter: @mrsbainsings YouTube: Lauren Bain