Classic children’s songs are great to use and modify for BrainDance™ warm-ups and movement breaks. Check out this week’s video share of the Hokey Pokey BrainDance™!
BrainDance™
If there is ONE thing we’d love to see in every classroom daily it would be BRAINDANCE™!
Do you use BrainDance™ in your classes? We love using classic children’s songs such as the Hokey Pokey to introduce children ages 3-6 to the 8 movement patterns in BrainDance. This version works well in dance, music, preschool and Kindergarten classrooms.
Anne Green Gilbert
BrainDance™, created by Anne Green Gilbert, is a series of 8 developmental movement patterns that integrate the brain and body. The BrainDance™ Hokey Pokey presented by Intellidance®️ provides children ages 3-8 with a fun way to warm up or as a movement break after sedentary periods in school or as a warm-up in dance class. Read more about Anne Green Gilbert here.
More BrainDance™!
Check out this blog post to learn more about BrainDance™ and why it’s vital for our students. Looking for more BrainDance™ activities? Take a look (and subscribe!) at our YouTube channel for a variety of BrainDance™ songs, poems and narratives.
Learn more about what makes Intellidance® unique
The foundation of the Intellidance® Method is the combination of dance and music concepts, identifying specific vocabulary in dance and music, and developing the understanding of both through the connection between concepts. These connected concepts provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, practice, and create using multiple senses and intelligences, creating long lasting positive outcomes later in life. This is what makes the Intellidance® Method so unique!
Interested in learning more? Check out our website to continue reading about Intellidance® Method.
There are 3 BIG MISTAKES studio owners and dance teachers make in their parent and tot classes that are dramatically limiting their program’s success and growth.
1. Marketing Program Product vs Program Process
Pictures of sweet preschoolers in perfectly posed Tutus may seem like the perfect way to market your early childhood dance programs, but in fact, it could be the very thing stopping parents from giving your program or studio a try.
Unrealistic Expectations
Images that show perfectly posed dancers set unrealistic expectations. Many parents look at these pictures and think
“What if my child…”
Won’t sit still
Doesn’t listen
Can’t keep up
Won’t participate
Doesn’t like wearing a leotard/tights/ballet slippers/hair in a bun/etc.
This can cause parents anxiety and, ultimately, discourage them from attending your class.
Most parents know that perfectly posed ANYTHING at this age is unrealistic, and may even question the studio’s unrealistic expectations.
Doesn’t show the learning journey
Perfectly posed images fail to show the learning journey and provide a limited view of dance. First off, these photos display a very ballet-centric world of dance versus the creative and exploratory concepts we utilize in class.
Second, there are some gender issues that need to be addressed. Most images exclude boys (and we all know that boys dance, period), and ignore the girls who love to dance but don’t like wearing tutus or ballet.
Third, inclusion. There are families in which the caregiver is a grandparent, aunt/uncle, babysitter, etc. And, there are families that can’t purchase a leotard and tights due to financial constraints. We want to be sensitive to these very common issues and ensure we’re including all types of families regardless of their family structure.
Solution: Market your PROCESS
Instead of showcasing the product, show the PROCESS!
Capture the feeling, not the pose
Feature caregivers as much as children
Learning is about the journey, not the destination
Describe the benefits that move beyond the dance class
Feature REAL families
2. Teaching the kids, but not the caregivers
Did you know: Kids under 3 years view their caregiver as their #1 teacher. By not involving caregivers, we are not meeting kids where they are. If a child sees their caregivers not engaged in class, they will follow suit. This can lead to our students tuning out and cause more classroom management issues. Ultimately, decreased engagement = decreased retention.
Solution: Empower the caregivers
We facilitate the caregivers and they facilitate their kids.
Empower through education.
Clarify YOUR role (to educate them, facilitate the activity and learning environment + differentiate support options for learning).
Give specific jobs to caregivers to increase confidence (if your child isn’t walking, hold them in your arms to feel start/stop – if they do walk, hold their hands).
3. Cotton Candy and Brussels Sprouts
No, we’re not talking about the foods. We’re talking about activities! Brussels Sprout activities are not play-based. They focus on or are dependent on the teacher and can’t be recreated without them. They are mainly physical-domain focused, usually have only 1 correct outcome and have limited differentiation.
On the other hand, we have Cotton Candy activities. These are the activities that only focus on fun. They typically have limited connections to the lesson plan and learning objectives. They tend to be too easy and can cause regulation and sensory challenges.
Solution: FUN on purpose
So, where’s the middle ground? Creating activities that are fun on purpose!
FUN is a learning modality!
Play is how kids learn
Play is collaborative
Play is brain-compatible (positive – which opens neuropathways)
Play is multi-sensory and holistic
Play focuses on process and possibilities
PURPOSE is your intention in every activity. Consider who, what, where and why when putting together your activities for class:
WHY are we engaging the child in this activity
WHAT are the overall learning objectives
HOW does it support the child (physical, cognitive, social-emotional)
WHAT does learning look like (VAK)
WHERE is the activity headed
By providing FUN on purpose, empowering your caregivers and marketing process over product, you’ll increase confidence, expertise and satisfaction all while accelerating your business profitability and success!
Learn more about what makes Intellidance® unique
The foundation of the Intellidance® Method is the combination of dance and music concepts, identifying specific vocabulary in dance and music, and developing the understanding of both through the connection between concepts. These connected concepts provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, practice, and create using multiple senses and intelligences. This is what makes the Intellidance® Method so unique!
Interested in learning more? Check out our website to continue reading about Intellidance® Method.
Why fight the wiggles? Have a dance party instead! Check out this new Dance Party Time Spotify Playlist created by Certified Intellidance® Instructor and Advisory Board Member, Liahona Walus.
Just click on the play button in the top left-hand corner to open the playlist in Spotify. Happy dancing!
Let your students dance!
Dance parties are one of our quick, go-to regulation activities! Asking our dancers to sit still and listen won’t regulate the wiggles. If we want children to find stillness, we need to let them MOVE! Just throw on an upbeat song, turn on your party light and let your students DANCE! After 3-4 minutes of vigorous, physical self-expression they are ready to return their focus to our learning goals because we’ve met their sensory needs.
Learn more about what makes Intellidance® unique
The foundation of the Intellidance® Method is the combination of dance and music concepts, identifying specific vocabulary in dance and music, and developing the understanding of both through the connection between concepts. These connected concepts provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, practice, and create using multiple senses and intelligences. This is what makes the Intellidance® Method so unique!
Interested in learning more? Check out our website to continue reading about Intellidance® Method.
Cuddles, snuggles and tickles are all an important part of infant development. Baby Brain Play™ supports infant neuro expansion while incorporating all of the snuggles and cuddles babies need. Moving through these simple songs and rhymes increases the caregiver-child bond and is fun on PURPOSE!
What is Brain Play™?
Developed by dance educator, Anne Green Gilbert (M. Ed), the BrainDance™ is based on eight movement patterns we go through in the first year of life through infant reflexes and floor play. These developmental movement patterns help connect the brain and body. You can learn more about BrainDance™ in our previous blog post here.
Baby Brain Play™ activities are designed to support an infant’s body awareness and coordination, assist with early brain development, and support language and literacy skills. This is an infant-specific adaptation of the practices of Anne Green Gilbert’s BrainDance and Laban’s Bartenieff Fundamentals.
Keep the beat!
Rhythmic movement begins in infancy. After learning how to identify the beat, babies will naturally work on the ability to move to the beat. Exposure to a steady beat in music teaches babies how to purposefully move their bodies by using the time between each beat to move their limbs or bodies at a faster or slower speed. This supports body awareness, control and coordination – all skills that promote proprioception (aka knowing how and where our bodies are positioned). Beat can help babies learn to move with intention!
Baby Brain Play™ Video
The Baby Brain Play™ video showcases three different Brain Play™ activities: Pat-a-Cake, Buckle My Shoe and London Bridges. Pat-a-Cake focuses on the Upper Body movement pattern, while Buckle My Shoe uses just the Lower Body. Organization of the upper and lower body allows babies to move their upper and lower body limbs independently or in synchronization. Grounding the upper or lower body also promotes emotional stability.
London Bridges takes the babies through the movement pattern of Body Sides. Moving body sides balance the body so that both the right and left sides have equal strength and mobility, and supports horizontal eye tracking.
Are you looking for more FUN on purpose?
Visit and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for hundreds of activities!
Learn more about what makes Intellidance® unique
The foundation of the Intellidance® Method is the combination of dance and music concepts, identifying specific vocabulary in dance and music, and developing the understanding of both through the connection between concepts. These connected concepts provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, practice, and create using multiple senses and intelligences. This is what makes the Intellidance® Method so unique!
Interested in learning more? Check out our website to continue reading about Intellidance® Method.
Did you read last week’s post about reversing your obstacle course? The benefits speak for themselves! Between balancing physical strength to flexing spatial awareness skills, we have no doubt your students will love the challenge. Check out this week’s coordinating obstacle course activity page! Just click on the image to download your PDF.
Benefits of Connect the Dot Activities
Connect the dot activities help:
Hand-eye coordination
Teach the alphabet and numbers
Foster creativity and drawing skills
Critical thinking
Engage students in the learning process
Are you looking for more FUN on purpose?
Visit our YouTube channel for hundreds of activities
Intellidance® is an international early childhood dance and music program that combines movement, music, rhymes and sensory activities to support children as they grow! From tummy time to dancing on their own, Intellidance® promotes brain and body development. Our certified teachers strive to nurture young families through our FUN on purpose methodology.
If you utilize obstacle courses in your early childhood music and dance classes, (which we highly recommend you do!), partway through, have your class switch the direction they are moving around the obstacle course.
Balancing Skills
Reversing the direction supports children in working on balancing skills on both the right side and the left side of their bodies.
For example: rolling along with mats in the obstacle course. Most children will lay on their belly and roll towards their left side, using their right side to initiate the roll. By switching the direction of the obstacle course partway through, children will roll towards their right side now using their left side to initiate the roll, balancing the work on both sides of the body!
Spatial Awareness
This reversal of direction also supports younger children’s spatial awareness development as they problem solve how to move through each station from a new perspective. This may seem simple for older children or adults but for our littlest dancers, these are skills they need to practice. Later, this skill transfers over to their ability to face any direction while performing a dance- so you’ll see these benefits in your recitals and performances, too!
Learn more about what makes Intellidance® unique
The foundation of the Intellidance® Method is the combination of dance and music concepts, identifying specific vocabulary in dance and music, and developing the understanding of both through the connection between concepts. These connected concepts provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, practice, and create using multiple senses and intelligences. This is what makes the Intellidance® Method so unique!
Interested in learning more? Check out our website to continue reading about Intellidance® Method.
Looking to refresh your summer dance playlists? Take a look at this NEW “Summertime Fun!” Spotify Playlist created by Intellidance® Instructor and Advisory Panel Member, Liahona Walus.
Sunshine, bike riding, surfing and more!
Summer-themed classes and camps are always a favorite with little dancers! There’s something about relaxed summer days that bring out some of the best creative moments in students.
Enjoy this sunny Spotify playlist, filled with 27 songs for all ages.
Just click on the play button in the top left-hand corner to open the playlist in Spotify. Happy dancing!
Learn more about what makes Intellidance® unique
The foundation of the Intellidance® Method is the combination of dance and music concepts, identifying specific vocabulary in dance and music, and developing the understanding of both through the connection between concepts. These connected concepts provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, practice, and create using multiple senses and intelligences. This is what makes the Intellidance® Method so unique!
Interested in learning more? Check out our website to continue reading about Intellidance® Method.
Coloring pages are a great resource to reinforce the skills learned in class and allow students to bring the activity home to delight in during the week! This coloring page is great for dance, music, or preschool teachers looking to support developmental movement patterns and brain-body integration in a fun, seasonal way.
Are you looking for more FUN on purpose?
Visit our YouTube channel for hundreds of activities
Intellidance® is an international early childhood dance and music program that combines movement, music, rhymes and sensory activities to support children as they grow! From tummy time to dancing on their own, Intellidance® promotes brain and body development. Our certified teachers strive to nurture young families through our FUN on purpose methodology.
Buzzzzzzzz! Did you hear that? Buzzzzzzz! It’s coming from the bees!
We all know that April showers bring May flowers. But, did you know that May flowers bring June bees? Here is a fun Bumble Bee finger play rhyme to try in your classroom to support fine motor development and counting skills.
This engaging activity is a great introduction to any spring or summer-themed class!
Looking for more fun dance and music activities?
Are you looking for more spring/summer-themed activities for your Intellidance® classes? Check out these fun resources!
Our YouTube page is filled to the brim with activity videos for Babies, Tots, Tykes and Kids! Search for class ideas and share the page with parents for at-home activities.
What is Intellidance®
Intellidance® is an international early childhood dance and music program that combines movement, music, rhymes, and sensory activities to support children as they grow! From tummy time to dancing on their own, Intellidance® promotes brain and body development. Our certified teachers strive to nurture young families through our FUN on purpose methodology.
Have you been searching for a meaningful yet engaging art project for your summer dance camps? Look no further! Explore dance concepts through visual art at your summer dance camps with this creative activity!
Conceptual Education
Conceptual education centers on big-picture ideas and learning how to organize and categorize information. Conceptual learning focuses on understanding broader principles or ideas (what we refer to as “concepts”) that can later be applied and connected to a variety of settings and situations.
Connect Dance to Visual Art
PATHWAY in dance can be connected with LINE in art! In dance, we can move in curvy, straight or zig-zag pathways. In art, we use straight or curved lines. By exploring LINE in art with young children we provide them with a concrete visual representation of the PATHWAYS we have been exploring in dance.
Salty Watercolor Line Art
Supplies:
White craft glue
Salt
Cotton swab
Watercolor or pallet paint
Baking tray
Paper towels
Directions:
Using white craft glue, create a PATHWAY of LINES on your paper (I like to use watercolor paper).
While the glue is still wet, sprinkle the glue with salt until the entire line is covered. (Pro tip! Do this OVER a baking tray to keep the mess in one place and to reuse extra salt).
Using a cotton swab saturated in water, use watercolor or pallet paint and gently dab the paint on the salt. Watch in AMAZEMENT as the paint travels along the salt Pathway/Line.
Optional- Paint the SPACE between the LINES and let dry.
Additional Activities
Check out these additional activity pages that are the perfect addition to your summer dance camps and classes!
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