I need some ideas for teaching a pre-ballet/creative dance class for ages 3-4 years. The youngest I've taught is age 5. Anyway, how would one go about creating a 45 minute class for this age group? Do you all use a lot of props? Any info is greatly appreciated.

Jazzdancer3

A while ago, I posted a general outline of what the classes I were assisting did in their Creative Movement class. I went through my threads to find it for you. Here it is.

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First class (average age of 3-4)
Warm up
-we have them sit in a circle. They sit on these plastic "dots" so that they don't move out of their spots too much.
-start out by asking them to take out their (imaginary) "ballet glue". Have them rub it on them bottom of their knees. Then have them push their knee to the floor so that they're nice and straight right in front of them. The "ballet glue" keeps their knees down while pointing and flexing.
-Now have them point and flex their toes. When they point, we have them say "good bye toes", and then when they flex, we have them say "hello toes". Do this a couple of times.
-then they can do "open the book". Open the book, is when they flex their feet and then turn them out on the floor. When they are in open the book position you can start telling them a little story about ballet, a little while into the story have them close the book, and then open it again to continue.
-Next have them do the butterfly stretch. While they sit there "flapping" their "wings" go around the circle and ask them "What color are your wings today?" or "where are you flying to?" or "What other animals fly like us?". Change the questions every now and then so that they don't get bored. After going around the circle, have them start "flapping" their arms.
-Then they could do the "bicycle". (they lie down on their backs or elbows and peddle their feet like riding a bike. Every class they have a new place to go . . . the little ones at my studio love when we "ride to the ice cream truck". Then we ask "what flavor ice cream did you get?"
-then you can have them spread their legs into a straddle. Have them "crawl" forward as far as they can. we refer to this as "kitty cat crawl"
-Then they can do "snakes" (our little ones say "ssss " when they come up. lol) A "snake" is on their stomach and they arch their back up. Then we ask them "what do you see?" and they usually end up screaming out stuff like elephants and dragons. Anytime they say something "scary" come back down to the starting spot but like you're afraid. Do this a couple of times.
-now they can stand up! lol.
-have them stand in first position (I'll explain a good way to have them remember later) Have them make "teacup hands", which is when they connect their thumb and middle finger. Now have them bring their teacups to the front (like first position), then side (second), a couple of times.
-next, they can bend over and pick up a "beach ball", put it on their heads (5th position) and throw it away (they just pretend to throw the ball away by opening their arms.
** this is usually good enough for them. Keep in mind they're little!

Center the kids sit against the wall when it isn't their turn in "crisscross apple sauce" (in other words Indian style . . . just a way to get them to remember it better)
- set up the dots 2 across 3 down (bring the kids up 2 at a time)
- have them do first position on the first dot, second on the second dot and curtsey on the last dot.
- a good way to have them remember first position . . . "heels kissing, toes apart" and for arms: first position- holding a beach ball.
- you can always add more dots if you want to teach them more but usually that's enough for them because they are so little.

Across the Floor
-set up dots across the room 2 on one side, 2 on the other (so they can go across from one dot to the next)
-ballet walks with either arms on hips, first or sometimes we give them something to hold in front of them like a flower
-ballet runs (arm options same as ballet walks)
-skips, hands on hips
-marches
-chasse(facing the front of room or 2 at a time holding hands)

For fun!
- we have a big collection of music at my studio and some of the songs are adorable. We have some records that have little dance games on them. They are hard to explain but they are very good because some of the songs help teach them the difference between left and right, etc. I would definitely try looking for something like this! Anyway, you can have them do one or two of these "games" in a circle. (Again, dots are helpful for keeping them in their spots)
- they can play ballet freeze dance and the winner gets a prize (a ballet pencil or ballet notepad, maybe even an extra sticker)

End of Class
-give them each a ballet sticker- if you played ballet freeze dance you can give the winner an extra sticker of their choice (have them sit against the wall with their hand on their head... so it's a surprise what sticker they get)
- we have a little saying "you get what you get and you don't get upset" because sometimes they would get sad if they didn't get the sticker the wanted.

Wow! Thank you so much! That was incredibly helpful to me.

Jazzdancer3

Could you tell me the names of some of those songs? Thanks!

I teach creative movement for ages 3-4.

What I do with them, is start with a game of freeze dance, every day. After freeze dance, we do a stretch, much like balletprincess3 described above. Then we practice skips, gallops (to the side and front) and tripilets. If they're feeling really ambitious we might event throw in a pivot turn.

Then we play another game. Sometimes another freeze dance, sometimes musical chairs, sometimes sleeping giant.

Then we curtsey. That normally takes us to the end of the class.

If you're looking for music, download anything by Greg & Steve, or buy one of their CDs. It's amazing kid music, I love it for my classes. Or I tend to play a lot of S Club 7, Hilary Duff.. Watch Me Shine.. songs from Madagascar.. there's lots of stuff, be creative!

If you really want them to pay attention.. buy a cheap princess crown. And tell them that the person who listens the best, and tries the hardest gets to wear the crown next class. You'll never hear a quieter bunch of kids.

Good luck! Pm me if you want anything more.