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Intro to Appalachian Flatfooting: Music for your Feet!

A 4-week introduction to the basics of Appalachian Flatfooting, a style of step dance that utilizes foot percussion to create percussive accompaniment to traditional fiddle music.
Charmaine Slaven
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(2)
Class
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What's included

4 live meetings
2 in-class hours

Class Experience

We will learn the basics of Appalachian Flatfooting.  We'll cover how to make percussive sounds with our feet by learning a few basic steps, then how to add more sounds and movements with accent steps.  I will lead the class and demonstrate steps for students, then we will practice the steps with & without music.  We will build on what we learn each week.  There will be opportunity for questions throughout each session, and I will also show video clips of other flatfoot dancers for inspiration and to learn about Appalachian culture.  No prior dance experience required.  Leather-soled, low-heeled shoes recommended, tap shoes can work.  Dancers will also need a surface, such as a 3x3 foot smooth wood board with carpet or rubber mat underneath.  Comfortable workout clothing and a water bottle recommended.  This class is physical, so please be cautious if the student has any musculoskeletal issues or differences.  We will do a warm-up and stretch at the beginning of each class.  We will utilize traditional roots music to dance to every class.

Week 1: Learn the basic step & how to add a heel sound accent to the basic step.  We'll cover some basic balance and ergonomic concepts to keep our bodies safe while dancing.
Week 2: Review the basic step & basic plus heels.  We'll start learning how to add the toe accent sound to the basic step.
Week 3: Review the basic step, basic plus heels, basic plus toes.  Learn how to do toe & heel combinations with the basic step.
Week 4: Review the basic step, basic plus heels, basic plus toes, and toe+heel combinations.  Learn chug steps and how to combine with the basic step.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the basics of Appalachian Flatfoot Step Dancing, how percussive steps works with traditional fiddle music and improve their sense of rhythm.  We will also cover some history of the dance, and how it applies to Appalachian culture.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Leather-soled, low-heeled shoes recommended, tap shoes can work. Dancers will also need an appropriate surface, such as a 3x3 foot smooth wood board with carpet or rubber mat underneath. Comfortable workout clothing and a water bottle recommended. This class is physical, so please be cautious if the student has any musculoskeletal issues or differences. We will do a warm-up and stretch at the beginning of each class.
Supply List
Low-heeled, smooth soled shoes appropriate for dancing.  Tap shoes can work, or leather soled dress shoes.  An appropriate dance surface, such as a smooth wood board placed on top of a yoga mat.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined July, 2020
5.0
2reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hello!
I'm a full-time musician & dancer based in Seattle.  I focus on traditional Appalachian music, dance, stories - and also love learning about these things in other cultures.  I've been teaching for over a decade at International music & dance festivals, workshops, & camps.

My professional music projects are Squirrel Butter www.squirrelbutter.com & The Piney Gals.  More on my work as a dance instructor at www.charmaineslaven.com 

On Outschool, I'm planning to teach classes on traditional dance, music, stories, and art.  I strive for my classes to be engaging, informative, & fun!

I'm also well-versed in gardening & urban farming and keep a large garden & chickens at my home in Seattle.  Perhaps I will also incorporate this into my classes.

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Live Group Class
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$60

for 4 classes
1x per week, 4 weeks
30 min

Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
3-10 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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