The class I am currently assisting has been progressing very well, but they are struggling with their arms. the girls are ages 8-10, and have been dancing for 2 to 4 years. The teacher gives me quite a bit of freedom in teaching the class, I write the lesson plans, teach the combinations, etc. I would like to spend some time next week going over all the arm positions, how to hold arms correctly, etc, but I want to make sure that they really are able to get something out of it. Their main problems are holding their elbows and flailing their arms during across the floor combinations, I haven't given them very difficult arms, they just forget to use them a lot. If you have any tips for teaching arms or anything that might be helpfull, please share. (The teacher also just had surgery on her ankle so I am teaching almost completely on my own at the moment, but there is a sub in the room. She may be back this week, but probably the week after.)

Thanks

I tell them arms are as important as feet. Even if the feet are moving perfectly, if their arms are sloppy, it doesnt look good. Once I teach the arms, I have them do the combination saying the steps (or the counts), feet glued to the floor ONLY using the arms. That usually helps having them do just the arms without the feet a few times.

If it's ballet (and I assume you could apply to other techniques as well), there's a couple of tricks at the barre. As long as the arms are staying in second, take a dixie cup half filled with water and have them hold onto it during the entire combination without spilling. You can also take a pencil and have them weave it through the fingers and have them make sure that the eraser is always pointing up.

While actually moving the arms...my image that I always use is that the arms are like fine porcelin. You can't crush them by being stiff, but you can't just throw them away...you have to treat them v. v. carefully.

At that age, in ballet, they should also be doing por de bras exercises every class. I choose to do a that with body positions. On Tuesdays they do it with a low arm, on Thursdays with a high arm. Does it take time? Yes, but it pays off in the end.

Love the idea w/ the dixie cup!! I'm going to try that! Thanks!!

I love the pencil technique! I will use that one!

You have to spend time on the arms.
This might sound a little crazy, but I have the kids lie down on the floor (supine)with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. They have to go through each movement. 1st position, 2nd and 5th. You cue these movements and place their arms (elbows do not touch the floor). Discuss how the shoulders need to be pressed down towards the hips and they can not fling their arms around, arms are round. Believe me after a few reps of this they will feel them. Then stand them up either seated or standing and do it again.

I agree - I like the dixie cup idea. I have my students work on arm excerises as well to help build arm strength. While doing barre students MUST hold their other arm up in 2nd or 1st throughout barre exercises.

Thanks for all the advice. They do hold/use their arms during barre, and we go over the arms gefore each combination. I will continue working on it with them and try out your guy's tips.

To add...

My teachers would never, ever let us mark arms. When one group was going, the other group had to stand in the back or off to the side doing the arms full out.

I wish I was better about enforcing this, but when I do, I see a difference.

^^^dido...this is soooo true!