Creative Movement and Dance Activities

For Movement Monday, grab a partner and let’s do a Mirror Dance!

Movement is essential for children’s physical and mental development. Encouraging free movement gives children space to develop self-awareness, learn non-verbal ways of communicating and to get to know themselves and their body. Through movement, children learn their range of motion, balance, muscle strength, coordination, and endurance. When we combine music with movement, it enhances children’s auditory system and sense of rhythm. (learningtree.co.nz)

Four middle-school aged children in a dance a studio, dancing in front of a large mirror

All you need is your favourite music and a partner. Note: Music with a slower tempo will be easier for someone to follow your movements.

  • Listen to the music and think of movements that might match the tempo (e.g., swaying side to side, stretching your arms up to the ceiling, squatting to side, toe tapping, etc.,).
  • Determine who will be the “leader” and who will be the “mirror”.
  • The leader decides on the movements they will do and the partner acts as a mirror, trying to follow the leader’s movements in the same way and move at the same pace.
  • When the song is done, switch roles. The leader becomes the mirror, and the mirror becomes the leader.

Challenge:

  • Try to complete the whole movement sequence without talking. How well can you anticipate the action and follow your partner’s moves? Try to stay “in-synch”.

Source: Adapted from Ophea.net, Brain Blitz