Body Awareness

Locomotor/Non-locomotor
Dance bump –

1. Two-thirds of the students form into pairs.
2. Each pair does a non-locomotor movement that they can repeat in unison.
3. The other third of the students move through space to join a pair. When each joins a pair, they 'bump' one of the pair off and then copy the movement of the remaining student.
4. The bumped student now does locomotor movement through the space, until they decide to 'bump' another pair.

Dancing on the spot – Students practice a range of non-locomotor movements. For example:

• twist,
• sway,
• bend,
• swing,
• rock,
• curl,
• shake,
• rise,
• kick.

Falling and rising –

1. Students practice the following movements:
   • fall to 8 counts and rise to 8 counts;
   • fall to 4 counts and rise to 4 counts.
   • fall to 2 counts and rise to 2 counts.
2. In groups of three, students make a composition using these movements.
3. Add variations by manipulating time and levels.

Body Parts
Body part shapes –

1. Teacher calls out name of one particular body part.
2. Students make a shape, focusing on that body part.
3. Teacher calls out "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, freeze!" when the students make the shapes.
4. Repeat, using a variety of body parts.

Body Base
And nothing else –

1. Students are challenged to support their weight only on the body parts called out by the teacher. For example, "one foot on the floor and nothing else",
2. Teacher counts "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, freeze!" when the students are in position.
3. For a variation, students can make compositions in pairs.

Body Shape
Opposites – Students work in pairs.

1. Each pair of students creates pairs of opposite body shapes. For example, one makes a symmetrical shape, and the other makes an asymmetrical shape.
2. Repeat, focusing on specific body parts.
3. Use three of the shapes to make a composition.