Autobiography |  Ballet | Books | Dolls & Costumes | Gardens | Kinesthetic | Main |  Rhythmic Dance | Spirituality

A Child's Book for Learning 16 Rhythmic Dance Steps Susan Kramer

translations
[Dutch]—[French]—[German]—[Spanish]

Dancing steps to practice, learn
adding clapping as you go
putting them in '9 Little Dances'
composed for you below ...

---

Rhythmic Dances For School Age Kids
by Susan Kramer

In 100 pages, 16 rhythmic dance steps illustrated and described,
plus 9 little dances, 18 - ABA and other sequencing combinations, and 4 advanced group dances -
for learning kinesthetically about math sets, sequencing, and language phrasing and rhythms.
Can be adapted for special needs children.

---

I. Key for Clapping Rhythms
II.16 Rhythmic Dance Steps
1) Walking
2) Running
3) Marching
4) Galloping
5) Sliding
6) Hopping
7) Jumping
8) Leaping
9) Pedaling
10) Prancing
11) Toe Pointing
12) Skipping
13) Waltzing
14) Minuet
15) Schottische
16) Polka
III.  For Practice - 9 Little Dances
IV.

   Links

I. Key for Clapping Rhythms

tum = a beat that is accented
ta = a short beat
& = a brief pause or change in action Example: walk: tum, tum, tum, tum
gallop: ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, ta tum
walk, walk, walk, walk & gallop, gallop, gallop, gallop
tum, tum, tum, tum & ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, ta tum

II.  16 Rhythmic Dance Steps

1)Walking

Continuous steps alternating feet.
Arms swing in opposition:
when right leg is in front, left arm is in front.
Tempos, directions, levels innumerable.
Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum

---

2) Running

Even quick steps varying in length and dynamic energy.
Each foot pushes off to the other foot.
Arms swing in opposition:
when right leg is in front, left arm is in front.
Many directions and levels.
Clap quickly:
ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta

---

3) Marching

Brisk even steps.

Supporting leg remains straight.

Working knee bends with thigh raised parallel to floor.

Many directions and patterns possible.

Arms swing in opposition, one forward, one back,

(arm of the front leg swings back).

Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum

---

4) Galloping

Rhythmic loping movements

leading with the same foot forward throughout.

Front foot steps forward

and back foot pulls up to front foot with a shuffle.

Arms in opposition, (as described in marching).

Clap:
ta tum, ta tum,
ta tum, ta tum

---

5) Sliding

Many variations of basic step

of keeping knees slightly bent

while feet slide along the floor.

One foot leads, the other slides to meet it,

and then the opposite foot leads.

Arm position varies:

Hands on waist; arms outstretched to sides;

arms in opposition for big slides.

Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum

---

6) Hopping

Always done on one foot with a very brief pause between.

Hops are usually in a series.

For balance; hands on waist or arms outstretched to sides.

Clap:
ta, ta, ta, ta,
ta, ta, ta, ta

---

7) Jumping

Done with both feet leaving floor and landing in unison.

In take-off, knees bend and feet press into floor

to give power to push off.

In landing, feet come down to floor in gradual succession.

First balls of feet, (half toe position), then heels,

then knees bend to absorb the shock of landing.

Arms outstretched to sides for balance.

Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum

---

8) Leaping

Large springs from one foot to the next, to the next, etc.

In succession from push off of the foot that just landed.

As foot lands that knee bends

to provide power for foot pushing off.

Legs and feet are stretched while in mid-leap.

Arms swing up to shoulder height in opposition for balance.

Clap:
tum,    tum,    tum,    tum

---

9) Pedaling

Standing with feet parallel,

one foot pushes forward onto ball of foot, (half toe),

stretching instep, then lowers

while other foot simultaneously

pushes up to ball of foot.

Feet remain parallel, almost touching, along inside edges.

Hands on waist or arms outstretched to sides for balance.

Slow tempo, then quicker

Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum

---

10) Prancing

As in Pedaling—but active foot raises

off floor slightly, toe pointed.

Once step sequence is mastered

a bounce is added by bending the knee

of the supporting leg with each change of leg.

Left leg, right leg, left leg etc.

Hands on waist or arms outstretched for balance.

Practiced in place or moving forward or backward.

Clap slowly, then quickly:
tum, tum, tum, tum

---

11) Toe Pointing

Standing in place, supporting leg remains still

while active foot points

so that tip of toe lightly taps floor counts 1, 2, 3.

Count 4 brings active foot back alongside

supporting foot.

Alternate pointing foot for each 4 count set.

Arms outstretched to sides for balance.

Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum

---

12) Skipping

Series of step-hops changing lead foot after hop.

One knee is raised, thigh parallel to floor.

Arms swing from shoulders, one forward, one back,

in opposition to knee that is raised in front.

Clap:
tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta

---

13) Waltzing

Set of 3 walking steps alternating feet.

One count per step.

Count one is emphasized by

bending that knee slightly as it steps.

Arms outstretched to side for balance.

Clap:
tum ta ta, tum ta ta,
tum ta ta, tum ta ta

---

14) Minuet

Pattern of 3 steps with the 4th count a toe point.

Begin each set with the foot of the toe that points.

Arms outstretched to side.

Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum

---

15) Schottische

Series of 3 walking steps

with the 4th count being a hop

on the same foot

that took step number three.

Place hands on waist for balance.

Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum

---

16) Polka

Two gallops in sequence,

with the lead foot being changed at the beginning

of the following set of two gallops.

Arms swing in opposition.

Clap:
tum ta tum, & tum ta tum,
& tum ta tum, & tum ta tum

III. For Practice

While learning the steps, it is fun to practice them in sets which form little dances
—moving in circles or lines.
For full dances:
Rhythmic Dances for Children
http://www.susankramer.com/Dances.html
Dances for Preschoolers
http://www.susankramer.com/preschooldances.html
For more sets:
Combinations of Basic Rhythmic Movements with Clapping
http://www.susankramer.com/combinations.html

Dance (1)
walk, walk, walk, walk,
& slide, slide, slide, slide,
& walk, walk, walk, walk,
& slide, slide, slide, slide, &...
Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, &...

---

Dance (2)
jump, jump, jump, jump,
& walk, walk, walk, walk,
& jump, jump, jump, jump,
& walk, walk, walk, walk, &...
Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, &...

---

Dance (3)
walk, walk, walk, walk,
& skip, skip, skip, skip,
& walk, walk, walk, walk,
& skip, skip, skip, skip, &...
Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta,
& tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tumta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, &...

---

Dance (4)
march, march, march, march,
& gallop, gallop, gallop, gallop,
& march, march, march, march,
& gallop, gallop, gallop, gallop, &...
Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum,
& ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, ta tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum,
& ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, &...

---

Dance (5)
waltz, waltz, waltz, waltz,
& slide, slide, slide, slide, &...
Clap:
tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta,
& tum,     tum,     tum,     tum, &...

---

Dance (6)

polka, & polka,

& skip, skip, skip, skip,

& polka, & polka,

& skip, skip, skip, skip, &...

Clap:
tum ta tum, & tum ta tum,
& tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta,
& tum ta tum, & tum ta tum,
& tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, &...

---

Dance (7)

schottische, & schottische,

& polka, & polka, &...

Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum ta tum, & tum ta tum, &... 

---

Dance (8)

minuet, & minuet,
minuet, & minuet,
& waltz, waltz,
waltz, waltz, &...

Clap:
tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum ta ta, tum ta ta,
tum ta ta, tum ta ta, &...

---

Dance (9)
waltz, waltz, waltz, waltz,
Clap:
tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta,

& polka, & polka,

Clap:
& tum ta tum, & tum ta tum,

& waltz, waltz, waltz, waltz,
Clap:
& tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta,

& skip, skip, skip, skip,

Clap:
& tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta,

& waltz, waltz, waltz, waltz,
Clap:
& tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta,

& slide, slide, slide, slide,
Clap:
& tum,     tum,     tum,     tum,

& waltz, waltz, waltz, waltz,
Clap:
& tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta, tum ta ta,

& polka, & polka &...

Clap:
& tum ta tum, & tum ta tum, &...

IV. Links

Susan Kramer, M.A. is an international author of more than 50 collections and thousands of articles on rhythmic movement, modern dance, ballet, music, philosophy, social issues, yoga, meditation, and practical spirituality for children, teens, adults and those challenged, with some Dutch, French, German and Spanish translations. Susan and her husband, Stan Schaap- http://www.stanschaap.com live in the Netherlands.

Rhythmic Dances For School Age Kids
by Susan Kramer

In 100 pages, 16 rhythmic dance steps illustrated and described,
plus 9 little dances, 18 - ABA and other sequencing combinations, and 4 advanced group dances -
for learning kinesthetically about math sets, sequencing, and language phrasing and rhythms.
Can be adapted for special needs children.

web site  http://www.susankramer.com/dance.html
email  susan@susankramer.com

Text, Photos and Illustrations copyright 1999-2016 Susan Kramer
Santa Barbara, California USA
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Dedicated
in loving memory of Judy Rodriguez,
who was my friend, and a marvelous teacher ...

published 1999; updated July 21, 2012; updated March 21, 2016 | webmaster