Five reasons why you should use warm-up games!
Sometimes when you don’t have much time it’s tempting to skip something like a warm-up game, but are five reasons why you should reconsider.
Ok this is obvious but worth saying – they get you warm! Through a few simple rules you can get people moving and thinking about how they use their bodies in space. I find Lîla’s game number-letter (from Making Dance) great for getting mind and body switched on!
They create a smooth transition into dancing. Walking into a dance environment can feel a little intimidating particularly for beginners. Warm-up games get everybody moving in a relaxed and light-hearted environment.
They create focus. Warm-up games have rules and with these rules comes an in-built desire to succeed and find the answer- to focus. This forms a fantastic springboard for the next stage of the dance session.
The inspire creative thinking. Warm-up games make space for finding physical answers in the moment. So games are like tightly structured improvisations! Lîla’s imaginary obstacle course is a really great game to get the imagination fired up!
They set up a positive group attitude. Warm-up games allow a group to mingle, work together and enjoy the sense of achievement from completing the task. I love Lîla’s Egyptians doe this very reason!
So if that’s inspired you to re-introduce warm-up games into your sessions and you want dome new games, we have a whole section on warm-up games in our ebook Making Dance
October 2018
Photos credit: Dougie Evans. Top image: Dancers Ba Dancer from Bath Spa. Bottom picture Community Cast dancer at The Edge.
