アイリッシュダンス: ブラッシュダンスを学ぼう! (7～10 歳)

This class is for children who have taken the Winter Break Camp or Intro to Sean-nós Reels.  

In this class, we will learn some new moves, strengthen footwork, and create a traditional "party piece"!

Each week, children will: 

1) Say hello to the teacher, and watch a video of a dancer(s) performing the brush dance. Each week will feature a different setting/age/performance type so that students get a sense of the different ways the dance can be performed. 
2) Dance our signature warmup (that includes the basic moves of Irish dancing) to an Irish tune (played by the instructor on fiddle, accordion, concertina, or whistle).
3) Work with the basic warmup elements in improvisation to live music
4) Review the step from the intro class that will be used with the broom this week.  
5) Learn the different brush dance elements: 
Week 1: "Tossing" the broom
Week 2: Skipping over the broom
Week 3: Lead Around (next to and holding broom handle)
Week 4: Advance Retire (next to and holding the broom handle) 
Week 5: Out and Cross
Week 6: Heel and Toe
Week 7: Gallop Step
Week 8: Creating our own steps, part I
Week 9: Creating our own steps, part II
Week 10: Setting the class choreography
6) Improvise a brush dance using the skills we have learned so far. 

About our learning environment: 
We are a Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum, and so all activities have joyful engagement as the primary goal. Our teachers are always listening to the "hundred languages of children" for opportunities to engage all members of the group. Children's confidence and interest will be strengthened through the teaching practice of meeting them at their level of understanding and interest, and giving them opportunities to express their ideas and understanding. 

Community development has been the aim of traditional arts for centuries, and so students will have opportunities to share and interact with the other children if they wish.   If they would rather listen and be a "good audience member" that is fine with us. There will be many opportunities to engage, and we will check in with the children throughout the class so that they can engage at their comfort level. The goal is to develop their listening ear, engage them in the stories, and give them opportunities to explore the basic dance moves in an empowering way, rather than demanding exact replication. 

No special shoes/clothing required.  Students may enjoy wearing "noisy shoes" (shoes that will make noise on the floor as they dance) but it is not required.