21st Century Swing

Today, I will be presenting the 21st century swing at the ASAHPERD Conference in Orange Beach, AL. Come by and swing with us!

For the 21st Century Swing you will need:

1. 5-8 simple 8-16 count dance moves (see the ones for today's event below)
2. Device that videos
3. Website to host videos
4. Computers/devices on which students can view dance moves

For today's session here's what I did:

1. I created 5 simple dance moves and videoed myself and Kelly performing the moves and teaching the moves. 
2. I loaded each simple dance move video instruction onto an Apple iBook computer.
3. I created 5 stations, one for each different dance move. At each station, I placed the computer with the video instruction and written dance instructions.
4. The following steps explain using the jigsaw teaching method - each group member is responsible for learning a specific part of the dance. The group members will reconvene and teach their dance moves. All dance moves will be combined into one dance. Each groups dance will be unique because there is no required order for combining the 5 dance moves.
1. Participants will be placed in squads of 5. Each squad member will be assigned a station to which he/she will go and learn the dance move. 
2. Participants go to their assigned station and learn the dance move by viewing and participating in the video dance instruction. 
3. Participants will reconvene with their groups and teach other members the dance move they will learn
4. Groups will combine the 5 dance moves into one dance - each groups final dance will be unique
5. After practicing the complete dance, groups will perform their dance for the entire class.
6. The instructor video tapes the performance of each group
5. Upon completion of videoing the students, the instructor will upload the videos to a website (personal website, youtube, etc.) where the videos can be voted on by friends, family, etc.

5 Simple Dance Moves used for Today's Presentation:

Bend & Snap

1-2 (knees together) Bend, Bend - while snapping R hand up & diagonally on bend

3-4 Repeat to L

5-6 Repeat with both hands performing overhead snap

7-8 Repeat with both hands performing waist down snap

Step & Snap

1 Step forward on R - snapping arm diagonal toward floor

2 Step forward on L - using the same snap

3-4 Repeat 1-2

5-8 Repeat entire sequence above, but stepping backwards

*May choose to begin sequence again, facing a new direction

R & L Hop and Pivot

1 Hop R foot to the R (left stationary) - arms follow feet

2 Hop L to L - R hops back to middle

3 Repeat 1

4 Repeat 2

5-8 Pivot counter clockwise on L 1/2 way around (facing back)

1-4 Repeat 1-4 above, but starting to the L

5-8 Pivot back to the front, L foot stationary

Grapevine Pumps

1-4 Grapevine to R

5-8 Knee bends while pumping R arm to R diagonally upwards

1-4 Grapevine to L

5-8 Repeat 5-8 above

Step & Twist

1 Step R foot to R - with toe pointing out

2 Step L foot to R - twisting so toes are forward

3-4 Repeat 1-2

5-8 Freestyle

1 Repeat step 1 above, but to L

2 Repeat step 2 above, but to L

3-4 Repeat

5-8 Freestyle

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL