I teach an intermediate jazz class of 8th grade/freshman girls. This group of girls are the most unmotivated group I've ever encountered and I'm not sure what to do. They stand with their arms crossed and just stare, they don't try anything that is "hard" for them, and are unresponsive when I try to give corrections. I try to stay positive in my speech and attitude, but sometimes I just want to throw up my hands and walk out of the room.

I'm looking for some exercises that are engaging for them besides the usual "let's make up choreography". Just something to augment the technique we're already doing in class and to break up the routine to get them excited to dance again. I know there is potential in these girls, I'm just out of ideas on how to get it out of them.

Any ideas or thoughts would be extremely helpful.

Try some group work, partner work, and improvisation. You can have them work on some simple lifts (ie 2 girls lift one girl during a leap or passe jump). Partner stretches to work on extensions. Have them dance with props...that is all I can think of now.

Bring in some of the higher level kids to work in class with them.

Take them to a workshop/seminar.

Take them to watch a dance competition with kids their own age.

Give them choreography assignments.

Have contests in class on things like arms, or energy, etc.

I don't allow "folded" arms in the class room, period. I tell them that they are giving me the attitude that tells me " I don't want to try"!!

Do throw up your arms and leave the room. Return after one/two minutes and tell them why you did that, and what you expect from them from now on. Tell them if they don't change their attitude, you will walk out of the room again, but not return.

I have left a class, when I did all that I could and it did not work. I have said, "well, I guess you do not want to learn anything, so class is over" and have walked out. Then I made sure that the parents knew that I did and why.

I sent a whole class out of the room and told them to come back when they were ready to dance! they were a little younger than you group, but it worked! They had been talking and not trying. The whole class walked single file out of the room without taking their eyes off me. they made a loop through the lobby and walked back in in silence, went to their places and waited...all but one, the biggest troublemaker, she stayed in the lobby to watch the recital video that was playing. I taught a combination and started the music and she came running. Class was great after that.