Littles Teachers
3yr old’s - 1st Graders
USE THE SAME TERMINOLOGY EVERY WEEK
You must use the same terminology and call the dance the same every week!
Ex: You cannot say “Pique Pique Passe” one week and then “Point Point Point To My Knee” the following.
They learn by hearing you call it the same way each time. They learn by repetition.
At the show, you will be in the wings calling the dance for them – they must know your words without having to look at you! Train them to look forward and just “listen” to your words.
In this video example of calling the words, you’ll notice I actually call the word BEFORE they are ready for it. They know it’s coming so they aren’t waiting around to hear the next step! Discard my horrible voice, and take a look at how they dance just by hearing my words.
Don’t worry about teaching step by step to these littles. They will follow you. Go through the formation, changes, circles, make a tree, tell a secret, make one line, etc. Then just go for it and let them follow you. Go through the entire dance the very first week. They’ll mimic what you are doing by your WORDS! It should only take you 2 weeks to complete teaching your entire dance. Remember, you’re not teaching step by step; rather you are training them to listen to you and mimic your movement. You can clean and adjust once you have the entire dance done.
burpee arms
BURPEE: Down Back Scoop Jump Up: Be sure that your girls are jumping straight arms up and doing this step correctly. Sometimes they just jump up and throw their hands in the air. It should be a definitive move with arms straight up - and it can be done with the littles, I promise! Here’s a demonstration of the correct way to do a Burpee at CDA!
skipping in a circle = skip on the road
Remember to “skip on the road” when your dancers need to skip around the stage for circles. If they have small circles on each side, give them the exact road to skip on, specific numbers. They are too small to know how to skip in a circle and keep it wide on their own. Make it fun - don’t fall off the road!
call the dance from the side of the room, not in front
WEEK 3: You should be standing on the side of the room doing the dance and calling it. You should no longer be in front of them. They need to get used to you being on the side and listening to your voice. Stop doing the steps big and focus them on forward and not looking at you.
Goal: get to where you can just say the steps and not move. They can listen, look at mom in the audience and move based on the words you are calling. This can be done with babies, I promise!
NUMBERS PLACEMENT
Use the same number for each dance. However, whatever line is on the front for ballet, is now on the back for tap. Don’t change their number – just their line. Call it “go to your ballet number or go to your tap number.”
Example: Sally Sue is on front row 4 for ballet. She is on back row 4 for tap. Never change their entire number, only change them from front to back. Everyone gets a turn on the front and we have no complaints from Mom.
Try not to say “front row” or “back row” – instead use tap row/ballet row, or apples and bananas, etc.
It’s best if you can walk around without your notes in hand. With littles, Mom’s really love to see the first few weeks and they don’t want to see you staring at your notes. Be prepared!
Pique, Pique, Passe - Littles Step
Click this video to see what the arms should be like at CDA for littles: “Pique Pique Passe”
EXIT
It’s always cute to have all the girls exit – and the one skips back onstage to blow a kiss, or make a pose. Try and find your smartest dancer to do this. Practice sending them back out to #3 to make their encore. Add this to your backstage mom line up – and let me know prior to the show so I don’t dim the lights!
All dancers should wave, kiss, pose – and then turn and skip back off. They are too young for a black out.
When skipping off (not on) and when entering for bows, the littles should always be blowing kisses and waving!
Make One Line (hold up 1 finger and say make one line)
Use the row of numbers (one line stays still and the back line skips up between the girls on their magic spot!) Always…with HOH.
When we make one line for Santa Claus, etc: the girls should face the back, put their surprise hands on face and wiggle their bottoms, BIG!
Make a circle in the middle of the stage “Tell a secret”
When we “tell a secret” – send them to the exact same number each week to tell their secret. They should lean in to the center, hands up like whispering, and shake their bottoms BIG!
“Fancy” tap shake
When it’s a tap shake: one arm behind the head, one arm on hip.
CDA HAND SIGNALS
BABY SIGNALS THAT WE ALL USE SO THEY CAN FOLLOW ANY OF OUR HAND MOTIONS!
Practice these in class from the beginning so they are used to them and can recognize them from any teacher!
Change your rows: Roll your hands in the air. This is our silent way of telling them to change their rows. All teachers will do this, so whomever is helping you on the side of the stage.
When you change your rows, the front girl should always turn to the right when going to the back.
Make a circle: Connect both hands making a circle. This is our silent way of telling them to go to their circles or go tell a secret. If one glances at you and sees it- the others will follow.
Make one line: Hold up 1 finger and they should know that means go to one line.
Go tell a secret: Use the make a circle sign, but then bend over and wiggle your bottom so they know it’s go tell a secret in a circle.
These work! They are universal for the entire studio!
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Always keep in mind that parents (unless they used to be a dancer) - focus on the waist and up when watching the show. They are looking at the faces and upper body.
This is why we focus so much on arms and fingers. It makes all the difference for a clean recreational dance. **Again, this is for recreational classes only.