Please have your child practice the following steps throughout the course. You may review these with them to see how they are doing. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us! 461-9763
The following are simple practice drills. We will be doing a couple of these every practice. Please work with your child to improve these skills at home. Eventually, the goal for these is to do them while keeping the head straight ahead, and not looking at feet!
These drills are suplemented with a dance routine your child is also learning. The steps are geared to follow some of the steps from above, and add with it character, action, and performance. Because we have been working with some students longer than others, we have separated the daycare centers steps, based on song, please call to know which dance your child is working on this year!
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Look at all we get to do in dance class with Idaho Rhythm!!!
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Simon Says:
- "Tree trunk" Begin with leaning side to side 4
times, then add twirling arms in front and sway 4 times.
- Jump out, clap, jump in, clap, jump forward, clap,
jump back, clap.
- Side together 2 times R, then twice L.
- Wave your hands in the air 4 times, then turn in a
circle to the beat one time while continuing to wave hands.
- stand like soldiers 4 counts
- put hands on hips and step side cross in front
step side, then together (right) 2 times, then wiggle 4 counts. repeat going left
- Put your hands on your head and sway 4 counts
- 4 jumping jacks.
- shake hands to the left 4 times then right 4 times
(count out loud)
- Put your hands on your head and sway 4 counts
- 4 jumping jacks.
- shake hands to the left 4 times then right 4 times
(count out loud)
- grapevine to the right 4 counts then to the left 4
counts
- basketball pivot step to back, then to front, stomp
x2 clap; pat legs x2 clap
- clap high above head 8 times then double time in
front. turn in a small circle.
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This page is full of sample steps we do in class, as well as tips and tricks to help improve your child's practice at home!
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Practice Tip! Want these exercises shown to you? For just $20, you can recieved a DVD with all of these exercises explained and demonstrated! Take advantage of this offer just fill out the form at the bottom of the page!
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Practice Tip!:The best set-up for this is to place a long piece of masking tape on the floor, or have some sort of straight line that your child can follow. Each of these exercises can be greatly enhanced by using music.
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Practice Tip! Get a printable version of this list free! Click here!
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Practice Tip! Having troubles with balance? Try doing a step using a chair first, then alone!
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Practice Tip! Want you child to practice at home? Instead of saying "practice for 10 minutes," have your child do certain dance steps and warm-ups 10 times! The time seems to go by quicker, and the practice is just as good!
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Practice Tip! Having problems understanding a specific exercise or step on this page? You can always call or e-mail us at 461-9763 and idahorhythm@gmail.com Ask a question, or order your DVD!
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Practice Tip! Have a practice tip of your own? Or have a question? Tell us about it!
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Walk the line. Your child will
learn to walk the walk with a
little bit of grace. Kick the leg
forward with a pointed toe, and
then place the foot in front with
the toe touching the floor right
before the heel.
Step to the side, step together.
Follow along the designated
line, having toes and bodies
constantly facing straight
ahead. This exercise begins at
a slow pace, and gradually
increases in speed into a
sideways gallop. Go both
directions
Step to the side twice. Spin once.
Your child will most likely need
to find something on the wall to
focus on during the spin,
otherwise they may over or
underspin!
slide together- step to the side,
then slide the other foot up to
meet.
Hop to the side. Feet should
stay close together, and toes
and body should stay facing
forward while hopping to the
side. Go both directions
Step to side, cross in front.
Follow along the designated
straight line, having toes and
bodies constantly facing
straight ahead. Place one foot to
the side, and cross the other
foot in front. Repeat both
directions.
Step to side, cross behind. See
exercise #4, replace "in front"
with "behind"
Grapevine. This is the simple
line dance step. It also
combines what was learned
from Exercises 3 and 4. Step to
the side, place the other foot
behind. Step to the side, and
place the other foot together.
Usually, it is easier at first to do
this as "side, front, side" first,
and then try going behind.
step kick. place one foot on the
floor, kick the other one out,
place it on the floor (where it
was), and alternate with out
taking any breaks.
Basketball pivot step. Place one
foot forward, pivot to face back.
The trick on this one is that the
feet have to stay in place (legs
can't get tangled up), so
whichever foot goes forward,
you have to turn the opposite
direction.
Scissor step. Feet should stay
on or near the line on this one.
Jump and land with feet apart,
then jump and cross right over
left. Jump out, then jump and
cross left over right. Jump out,
then jump together and clap. do
this with no breaks.
Jump out clap, jump together
clap, jump forward, clap, jump
back clap.
Heel step. Place one foot on the
line, and the other with the toe
point up (heel touching the
floor) in front of the line. Bring
both feet into standing position.
Put the other heel in front of the
line, and then back to standing
position.
Charlie Brown. This is a more
continuous version of Heel step.
Start with feet close together on
the line, place one heel in front,
do a slight hop to put the other
heel out and return the first heel
back to standing on the line-
alternate back and forth.
Toe step. Same as heel step,
but place alternating toes
behind the line. This will
graduate into a sort of inverted
Charlie Brown.
Stand on one foot. This is the
simple balance technique of
finding one's center of gravity.
To make this effective, your
child should NOT hop around. It
helps to have the child focus on
something straight ahead of
them. Try different feet.
side together. Take step with
right foot to the side, then bring
the left foot to meet it. Go the
other direction with left foot
first,and then go back and forth.
standing drills
moving drills
I'm Walkin': click here for music!
- Wait 8 counts with knees bending to the beat
- March in place 8 counts with high knees. March in
a small circle for 8 counts. 2 steps to each wall.
- step kick x4 (pointed toe)
- twirl arms in air to the upper right 4 counts then left
- hop hop down x3 hoorah! arms x2
- side together side together with golf swingx4
- step kick x4 (pointed toe)
- 8 steps fwd, 8steps backword
- hop hop down x3 hoorah! armsx2
- side together side together with golf swingx4
- basketball turn x2 step toex2 and take a bow!
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Practice Tip!: Download your child's music for FREE right here!
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Can't Wait to be King Intro
- Starts off on the first beat after gunshot. Facing
away from audience.
- 4 snaps with right arm to side, then 4 snaps with
left arm
- clap 4 times, then jump to face audience.
Verse 1:
- Spaghetti arm step back and forth 8 counts
- stomp clap stomp clap, hop hop down
- flex right arm, then left arm, then wiggle for 4
counts
- arm out, arm out, drop hands into a full circle and
around. 4 counts
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