Sevillanas: Learning the First Verse with a Partner
Students learn the first verse of sevillanas with a partner, following its traditional structure: opening, walk-in, pass, face-off circle, second pass and closing pose. Students work on rhythm, arm and foot coordination and partner connection in an Andalusian folk dance.
How to play
- Explain the structure of a sevillana to the rhythm of hand claps and set students in two lines of partners facing each other about 5 feet apart (3 min).
- Teach the basic sevillanas step: right foot forward, weight shift, left foot together and back, first without music and counting (6 min).
- Add the opening (claps and arms circling up) and the walk-in: two basic steps moving toward the partner and back (5 min).
- Teach the pass: partners cross by the right shoulder with a half turn and end up in each other's place (5 min).
- Teach the face-off, where partners circle each other while keeping eye contact, plus the second pass, and connect it all with the closing pose face to face (6 min).
- Dance the full first verse to music twice, switching partners in between (5 min).
Rules
- Any two students can be partners, and everyone switches at least once.
- Always pass by the right shoulder to avoid collisions.
- Be patient with students who learn more slowly; no teasing.
- Leave about 6 feet between pairs for arm movements.
Variations
Easier
Dance only the walk-in and the pass with claps, no arm work, at half speed.
Standard
Dance the whole first verse with arm work and a partner switch.
Harder
Add the footwork in the closing and start learning the opening of the second verse.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the partner dances around the wheelchair while the student does the arm work and claps in each part.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher signals each part with a colored card, and the front row claps big for visibility.
- Shyness: start with a trusted partner and have all pairs dance at the same time, with no solo showcases.
Learning goals
- Perform the basic step and structure of the first sevillana.
- Coordinate arm and foot movements with the music.
- Dance with a partner, adjusting spacing and timing to each other.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music: 1
- speakers: 1
Teacher tip
Clapping is the best teaching tool, so rehearse every part by clapping it before dancing it. Make it clear that anyone can partner with anyone, and share the cultural background of the dance.
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