Sardana Cool-Down: Counting Short and Long Steps in the Circle

The sardana is Catalonia's circle dance, with joined hands, danced to the music of a cobla band. Its calm pace and the need to count steps make it a cool-down with a focus challenge.

How to play

1. Context: the open circle anyone can join, the cobla and the person who counts the steps (2 min).
2. Curts (short steps, hands down) and llargs (long steps, hands up) without music, counting (3 min).
3. Circle with music: everyone counts silently and switches sections together; the teacher names a 'counter' who signals with a look (4 min).
4. Wrap-up: which part was hard to count and what the circle stands for (1 min).

Rules

• Join hands without pulling on your neighbor.
• No big jumps: steps are measured.
• Anyone can join the circle: open your hands to make room.
• Respect it as a living traditional dance.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: joins the circle from the chair, arms down for curts and up for llargs.
• Students with visual impairments: the hand contact tells them when to switch; neighbors squeeze gently at each change.
• Deaf students: the counter signals changes with a clear gesture.

Learning goals

• Bring activation down with a calm dance.
• Keep focus and count within a group.
• Know the sardana as a community dance from Catalonia.

Equipment for a class of 25

• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

Pick a short sardana recorded by a cobla. Common mistake: staring at the feet; ask them to look at the center of the circle and count in their heads.

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