Hello everyone and welcome to our very first dance class of the season! Would everyone please sit in a circle so we could get to know everyone. I'm Chantelle and a premire dancer and i'm 12. And you are?

I just though this would be a good way to start things off! If you would like to join this class just post your name and we will go from there!

Chantelle

I'm Jessica, and I compete as a Novice in Highland, although I dance more like an Intermediate or Premier. (Not being snotty; I am in all Premier classes, I dance Premier dances at shows, etc.)

Punkqueenie, why don't you just move into Intermediate just now then?? there's no point being in Novice if you're already dancing like a premier dancer....

I know this is off topic, just wanted to ask!!

I want to "earn" my way up to Intermediate/Premier from competing. I think it's better that way, plus, I don't think my teacher would let me move up any other way, and I would feel a little fake if I did, you know? Like I didn't really deserve to be Intermediate, because I hadn't really gotten all my stamps and such. Okay, that probably didn't make much sense, but that's okay...

"So, what should we do first??Why dont we stretch! Is there any leaders, who would liek to lead the class today?"
Chantelle

"Wow, this is an interesting class... Full of total Beginners, and a bunch of Premiers! Speaking of Premiers, why don't one of you all lead?"

I'll lead if you like!!

OK girls.

Its not a good idea to stretch without loosening the legs a little first, so lets just do some bounces in first and second position to start.

After this, we'll sit down in the froggy position, (for those of you who don't know what this is, you sit on your butt with the soles of your feet together and try to push your knees down towards the ground), and stretch your hips a little.

After this, I usually find a wall and, standing with my feet slightly apart, one in front of the other, lean against it to stretch the backs of the legs.

Lastly, we'll get onto a barre and stretch by putting one leg on it and sliding down as far as possible.


Now, I think everyone should be stretched, it's time to warm up!!

wow! that feels alot better! haven't done those streatchs in forever!
Chantelle

Yeah, that felt great! I'm sure I'll be sore though. Is anyone going to lead warm-ups? I will if no one else wants to.

Go ahead!!

I'm freezing, I think I need to warm up!!

Okay! Since this is the first class, I guess we should do some easy warm-ups.
First, let's all get on the floor and point and flew our toes. It gets your feet warmed up and your ankles and shins too.
Now, let's do some more hops in first and second. Make sure you hold up your upper body, other wise you'll get no elevation and it looks horrible.
Now let's get a little complicated for the Beginners! How about some hops in third (assembles) and then some "changes". Now, for those of us know how to do them, I'll put on a nice Fling, and we can do four assmbles and then a leap, over and over again, of course.
For all of us that can, let's finish warm-ups by doing a four step Highland Fling, to kind of give the mewbies an example of Highland, and if they want, they can try to do some hops in first or second or whatever position along with it, to build some stamina.

Okay, I guess that's it for warm ups. On to the actual dance?

im sorry, this must sound pretty dumb.. but what exactly are first and second?
bessiboo

Sorry,

1st position is when the dancer stands with their heels together and their toes turned out with the weight evenly distributed between both feet.

2nd position is when one foot is the same as 1st position and the other foot is stretched out to the side, turned out, with its toe and heel in line with the heel of the supporting foot.

You can find out more in the beginners class, where we'll be starting from scratch!!