Jota: The Hopping Step, Raised Arms and the Turn

Jota is a traditional dance found in many regions of Spain, such as Aragon, Navarre, Castile and Valencia, with a triple meter and hopping steps. Students learn a basic step, the turn and a short sequence in facing pairs.

How to play

1. Context: jota across regions, its triple meter and the role of castanets and the sung verse, the copla (3 min).
2. Triple meter: count one-two-three with claps, then with the feet in place (4 min).
3. Basic hopping step with raised arms, and the turn in place (8 min).
4. Facing pairs with interchangeable roles: advance, cross and return to place (8 min).
5. Full sequence in two lines, with volunteers playing castanets or clapping (7 min).

Rules

• Keep hops low and land with bent knees.
• Pairs aren't set by gender: everyone picks their side.
• Present it as living heritage, no regional jokes.
• Pass castanets clean and collect them at the end.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: keeps the triple meter with castanets or claps and does the arms from the chair in the line.
• Knee discomfort: replace the hop with a heel raise.
• Students with visual impairments: the partner calls out each crossing.

Learning goals

• Keep a triple meter with feet and hands.
• Perform the basic jota step and turn.
• Value jota as diverse cultural heritage.

Equipment for a class of 25

• speaker: 1
• castanets: 10

Teacher tip

If you're short on castanets, two wooden spoons or plain claps will do. Common mistake: losing the count on the turn, so have them say 'one-two-three' out loud the first few times.

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