strathspey@strathspey.org:52667

Gayle Hoepner

Re: Exercises for teaching recovery, etc.

June 4, 2008, 12:18 a.m. (Message 52667)

Mel and Ellie Briscoe did a session at a workshop in Iowa which they  
called Ball 101 or something to that effect.  They had several  
different exercises, but what I can of think of right off:
1.  In 2-couple groups, tell the women only a 16-bar phrase - then  
dance it and communicate without words what they are to dance.  Vary  
it by telling only the 1st couple, or only the men, etc.
2. Choose a dance which everyone is familiar with.  Stop the music  
(or the dancing) at some random point.  The dancers have to stop and  
think ahead to the next 8-bar phrase to pick up and start again.

We've done this a few times since Mel and Ellie presented it, and  
have had fun with it.  The dancers also were proud of themselves when  
they actually put it to good use, and it worked.
Gayle Hoepner
Ames, Iowa