I'm taking over a jazz group where not 1 student stands out. They're all a bit uncoordinated and none of them have any stage presence. They are all beautiful, lovely girls but unfortunately the dancing just isn't up to scratch. I feel bad for them because come recital time, they are usually one of the worst groups.

Now that I'm teaching them I'm trying to find a song for them to do at the recital. There is no main theme so it could be anything. They are not very 'boppy' so i was thinking if they were to play some sort of character it might be easier for them to know what to do with their faces etc.

The age group is around 9 years old and there are only 6-7 of them in the group. I'm really struggling to think of something that they could pull off though. Any ideas?

When my daughter was a youngish student (though not quite that young) she was in a varied group with a lot of energy but not enough skill to perform absolutely in synch within the limited amount of time they had before an upcoming performance. The teacher did an Olympics-sports-themed piece where they went in groups across the floor portraying different kinds of races and contests. So it didn't matter that some of them got across the floor faster or that everyone did things a bit differently. It looked like it was supposed to be that way.

With groups like that, I try to give them a song that the audience will enjoy and get into.

Footloose
Where's the Party
Dancing in the Street

Good Luck

I had a group like that a couple of years ago and I did 'Too Cool' from Camp Rock with them all in fancy dresses, that way it hid a bit of their lack of technique. We did enough Jazz technique for it to be entered in the Jazz category but you can do a variety entry for those not really strong enough for an out and out Jazz entry.

You could do the same sort of idea with Supermodel.

I like "Stray Cat Strut" easy tempo and everyone knows how to be a cat.

Lots of great ideas so far. I'll add:

Mimes — "Beautiful Life" by Ace of Base
Cheerleaders — "Hey Mickey" by B*witched
Robots — "Can't Get You Out of My Head" by Kylie Minogue
Cowgirls — "Bomshel Stomp" by Bomshel or "5,6,7,8" by Steps

Magic either by Selena Gomez or the other version by Kidz Bop.
Top hats and wands, lindy's and kick ball change and voila!

No particular song suggestion, but I have "choreographed" their facial animation, at first. Some just don't get it until they see the other kids in competitions.

I am using "Fabulous" from High School Musical this year and the kids LOVE playing Sharpay. The have great "attitude" when doing it and it definitely brings some of the shyer kids out of their shells!