Everyday Gesture Choreography
Inspired by Pina Bausch's dance theater, each group turns everyday gestures (combing hair, checking a phone, waving hello) into a repetitive, rhythmic routine that tells a story. It builds observation, abstraction of gesture, expression, and group composition.
How to play
- Explain in 2 minutes how dance theater uses repeated everyday gestures to express emotion. Each student thinks of three gestures they do every day and performs them in place (3 minutes).
- Transform the gestures: bigger, smaller, slower, with another body part, or repeated four times. Each student picks a favorite version of each (4 minutes).
- Form groups of 5. Each member teaches their three transformed gestures, and the group chooses six to make an 8 eight-count phrase (6 minutes).
- The group picks a theme (rushing, loneliness, routine) and arranges the phrase using devices: unison, canon, one person still while the others move, and a single-file entrance (6 minutes).
- Each group performs its piece to music (1 minute per group), and the audience says what emotion or theme they picked up on.
- Discuss for 2 minutes how a gesture changes meaning when it's repeated or done in slow motion.
Rules
- Choose gestures respectfully: don't imitate specific people or make fun of anyone.
- Each group uses a marked-off space and stays out of other groups' areas.
- Every idea gets tried before it's thrown out.
- During quick traveling moves, keep your eyes forward to avoid collisions.
Variations
Easier
Work with three gestures per group, all in unison.
Standard
Create an 8 eight-count phrase with six gestures using unison and canon.
Harder
Add a real everyday object as a prop and a change in musical tempo.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: build the piece from arm, hand, and head gestures, which adapt perfectly.
- Hearing impairment: a group member signals section changes with a visual cue.
- Shyness: the student can perform the gestures in unison with the group, with no solos.
Learning goals
- Transform everyday gestures into choreographic material.
- Compose an expressive group piece around a theme.
- Interpret the meaning of gestures in other groups' pieces.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music
- speakers: 1
Teacher tip
Show a short clip of dance theater before starting so students get the style. Stress repetition: it's what turns an ordinary gesture into dance.
PatioLab has "Everyday Gesture Choreography" and 2499 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for High School
1-2-3-2-1 Running Pyramid Intervals
An interval workout where the fast segments build from 1 to 3 minutes and back down, with half that time as jogging recovery.
1-on-1 Self-Pass Volleyball
One-on-one games on narrow 10 x 20 foot courts where each player must self-pass before sending the ball over.
10-20-30 interval running in pairs
The 10-20-30 method strings together 30 seconds of easy jogging, 20 at a moderate pace and 10 at top speed, in five-minute blocks.
1v1 Ball Volley Matches
1v1 ball volley: singles games on a small court with a low net, hitting the ball over the net and allowing one bounce.
2-on-1 Fast Break with a Chasing Defender
Two attackers push a fast break against a defender waiting at the basket while a second defender chases from behind with a few yards' head start against them.
2-on-1 Through Three Defensive Zones
Pairs of attackers cross the court through three zones, each with a defender who cannot leave it, and finish with a shot on goal.