Slow-Motion Review: One Step, One Word

In a circle, each student picks a step from the day's dances, does it in slow motion as a stretch and says one word about what they learned. The group copies it, so everyone stretches, remembers and reflects at the same time.

How to play

1. Wide circle: the teacher shows how to turn a step into a stretch, like lengthening the grapevine cross until you feel it in the hip (1 min).
2. First half of the circle: each student does their step in slow motion, holds it for ten seconds and says one word; the circle copies it (2 min).
3. Second half of the circle, switching to leg steps if the first half chose arm steps, or the other way around (2 min).
4. Wrap-up: the group picks its three favorite step-stretches and links them in silence (2 min).

Rules

• Hold each stretch with no bouncing and no pain.
• You can repeat a step already chosen if you give it a new word.
• The word can be about the dance, the group or the culture it comes from.
• Nobody comments on anyone else's flexibility.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility: turn the step into an arm, neck or upper-body stretch from the wheelchair.
• Injury: choose a step that avoids the injured area and everyone does the same.
• Shy students: whisper the word to the person next to them, who says it to the circle.

Learning goals

• Stretch the muscle groups used in the lesson.
• Remember the steps and where they come from.
• Sum up what you learned in one word.

Teacher tip

With more than 25 students, run two circles and have one person in each collect the words to share at the end. Common problem: steps that don't stretch anything; ask "Where do you feel it?"

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