I would use these:

Dreamweaver
Once upon a December or any Disney song!
Soar_Christina A.
Bridge over Troubled Waters_Clay Aiken
Hallejuah I Love Her So_I dont know

i agree with most disney songs, but not all of them... also "rainbow connection" from the muppet movie.. sorry if this has been posted before..

only hope
if we hold on together
castle on a cloud

God Help the outcasts
Show me the way
Let me be your wings
Home is where the heart is

Our recital theme this year was "TV and Radio" so I chose "NYC Weather Report" by Five For Fighting for my beginning lyrical class (ages 9-14). Its basically just an ode to New York and the kids really liked the song (so that always helps!).

I completely agree with you.... young dancers SHOULD NOT be dancing to songs about love, or death.... how can a child performer, esp under 10 perform lyrical (personally I dont feel that children should be doing lyrical anyways) if they do not understand what they are dancing to. Lyrical is about telling a story and portraying a character.... evoking emotions.... children should only be dancing about what they know... laughter, school, play....
although these songs are great for older dancers.... they should not be given to young children.

Has anyone listened to the words of some of these songs your suggesting...
concrete angel... its about a child being beaten to death
good riddance... about leaving and moving on to another chapter of ones life....

I just feel that as a teacher young children cannot handle lyrical...
but if you are going to have young child perform lyrical.... let it be about something they know...
DISNEY songs are wonderful... but try not to stray far from that....

'end of the line' from the cheetah girls soundtrack
'dare you to move' switchfoot

Believe- Polar express (Josh grobin)

I suggest Vanessa Carlton's song Pretty Baby or Coldplay's songs.

SugarPlum

Last year I danced to In His Care.

I did "On my father's wings" from Quest for Camalot for a lyrical dance compition! I was like.... 9. but I I placed in the gold catagory! I thought it was a great song!!

'I Believe' by Fantasia is a perfect song.

and 'Breathe (2AM)' by Anna Nalick is great for older girls.

Lyrical doesn't have to always be sad and emotional. It can also be happy. And yes there are some children out there who can show them emotions and have an understanding for lyrical

Gravity is by Cindy Morgan

Just a few that I don't think were mentioned. I personally don't believe that any kids under 8 should do lyrical, regardless of the tone of the music. So based on that.... most of these were used either by my studio when I was a student or fellow instructors at the studio I teach at:

Linda Eder's version of Bridge Over Troubled Water (Would be best for a mixed group of older and younger kids. Did this one with a group average age of 12 and it was great.)

Richard Marx - Children of the Night (Kind of controversial lyrics but a very meaningful topic that will ultimately be received well. I was in a production done to this song about 13 years ago and we won everything. Done right it's very touching.)

Tyler Collins - Thanks to You
Amy Grant - Somewhere Down the Road
Luther Vandross - Impossible Dream
Colm Wilkinson - This is the Moment
Keri Noble - If No One Will Listen
Sheena Easton - A Dream Worth Keeping
Susan Ashton - Stand
Jennifer Holliday - A Dream Out There With Your Name On It
Linda Eder - Smile
Sara Groves - Every Minute or This Peace
Yolanda Adams - What About the Children or Still I Rise or Never Give Up
Sandi Patty - Hand on My Shoulder or If I Want To or The Stage Is Bare
Michael W. Smith - Friends or I Will Be Here For You or Place in This World
Whitney Houston - Count on Me or One Moment in Time
Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey - When You Believe
Stacie Orrico - Dear Friend (sad, but pretty)
David Meece - My Father's Chair (another sad one)
Gene Wilder - Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka)
USA for Africa - We Are the World (an oldie but a goodie!)

As always, check the lyrics and have a listen and if you have trouble finding any of them, PM me.

Great song. I saw this performed by a 9 year old at a regional competition. It is a touching kid song...she did a beautiful job!

you can find the song dear mr. jesus on limewire. Does anyone no if there is a version of the song "i believe i can fly" song my a woman, if you do who?
thanks for all the help, i love the song concrete angel but i do agree it would be better for a 11-13 year old dance. but a good song for a yonger solo would be "the girl i mean to be" off the secret garden.
mali

Some of my suggestions
-Castle on a Cloud
-We hold on together
-Childhood
-You raise me up
-Never Neverland
-i agree with anything disney that always works
hope this helps
mel

I love "Angels Among Us"! I'm a teacher and I've been dying to do a lyrical with this song, but our recital theme is disney so I can't. It's by the group Alabama.

Part of that world - Little Mermaid
God help the Outcasts - Anastasia
Somewhere over the rainbow - Wizard of Oz
When you walk in fields of Gold - ???
Joy to the world

Miracles- Mariah Carrey
Listen to your heart- DHT
Butterfly- Mariah carrey
my heart will go on- Celine dion
oceano- josh groban

i strongly agree with the comment that lyrical should only be presented to an age group that understands the meaning of the song and has the ability to relate to it from life experiences. Otherwise the performance is reached as just a routine and not telling a story or emoting a message which is what a lyrical is.

I haven't used it yet neither seen it done, but it just popped into my head when reading this post - what about
THE PERFECT FAN by THE BACKSTREET BOYS

DARCEY

Hey

Some other great songs are:

Maybe (Annie)
Power of a dream (Celine Dion)
A mother's prayre (Celine Dion)
Dreamland (unknown)
Once upon a December (Disney)
Somewhere out there (Disney)

Alex