Dance For the Sun

Create a dance for the sun using Improvisation and Choreography

Improvisation - Playing with movement structures and concepts.  Make it up as you go.

Improvisation movement structures and concepts that will bring interest and creativity to your movement choices:

Directions (Right, Left, Forward, Backward, Up, Down)

Levels (Low, Medium, High)

Speed (Slow, Medium, Fast)

Size (Small, Medium, Large)

Focus (Single focus, Multi focus, External, Internal)

Pathway (Straight, Curved, Zig Zag)

Balance (Off Balance, On Balance)

Weight (Strong, Light)

Body Parts (Arms, Legs, Spine, Head, Elbow, Knee)

Energy (Smooth, Sharp)

Note:  The sun gives us energy.  Can I use my energy like the sun?

 

Choreography- Planning and arranging movement into a form with intent.  Same each time

There are two places in this dance for choreography:

  1. Some words describe yoga poses and will guide you through the movement that takes you to each pose. Notice the repeated sequence that guides you through the choreography.
  2. The chorus repeats encouraging words.  Below are choreography suggestions.  You may choose to choreograph your own movement.

I can do it!   (Reach both hands and arms away from you and then bring them in to touch your shoulders)

You can do it!  (Reverse the above movement to reach both hands and arms out and away from yourself to stretch to those in front of you.)

We can do it!  (Bring both arms down to body sides and then reach them high to the sky.)

A sun salutation!  (With arms reaching high turn around with legs skipping to make one rotation.)

Create Your Dance for the Sun with a Beginning, Middle and End.

     1. Beginning Shape - Start with a beginning shape that lifts up towards the sun.  You can add your eyes focusing upward.

 

     2. Improvisation – As the singer says “ Sun salutation, dance for the sun,    repeated four times, dance the way that you want to or improvise your            movement. This repeats two times.

 

     3. Choreography – Follow your choices of choreography as the chorus encourages, “I can do it, you can do it, we can do it, sun salutation”.

 

     4. Choreography – Follow directions to find yoga poses.  This repeats two times.

 

     5. Improvisation – As the singer says “ Sun salutation, dance for the sun, repeated four times, dance the way that you want to or improvise your movement. This repeats two times.

 

     6. Ending Shape – Chose a shape to end your dance.  Try to make it on a different level, with different lines and designs than your beginning shape.  Still focus upward to the sun.

 

Reflect and Share - Take a minute to pay attention to your body.  What do you notice now that you have done a dance?  Share your thoughts and opinions with someone.

Questions you might ask yourself:

Is there a change in my breath?

Do I notice a change in the temperature of my skin?

Do I notice a change in my heartbeat, or my energy level?

 

What was my favorite part of this dance?
 

Did I like the choreography where I followed set choices?

Did I like to make up my dancing with improvisation?