Scarves in the Air: Dance Warm-Up with Slow Falls

Each student tosses a juggling scarf and, while it floats down slowly, does turns, waves or level changes before catching it. The scarf's slow fall sets the tempo and gets joints and focus ready for a dance session.

How to play

1. With soft music, each student tosses a scarf and catches it with different body parts: hand, elbow, back, knee (2 min).
2. Toss and, before catching, do a full turn or a spinal wave from top to bottom (2 min).
3. Toss, drop to the middle or low level and rise again to catch it before it touches the floor (2 min).
4. In pairs, one tosses and the other traces the scarf's path with their body while it falls; then switch roles (2 min).

Rules

• Keep about three feet between you and the person next to you.
• Watch the scarf, but check the space before turning or going down.
• If the scarf drops, pick it up and keep going: there is no penalty.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: works seated, with torso and arm waves between toss and catch.
• Visual impairment: uses a high-contrast scarf and works with a partner who calls out the fall.
• Lower-body injury: replaces level changes with arm and head movements.

Learning goals

• Mobilize the joints and raise arousal gradually.
• Match one's own movement to a slow external tempo.
• Explore different body parts as catching surfaces.

Equipment for a class of 25

• juggling scarves: 30
• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

Nylon scarves fall more slowly than cotton ones and make success easier. Outdoors on a windy day this activity loses its point, so keep it indoors.

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