In March 2020, at the start of the Covid-10 pandemic, Saumirah McWoodson began creating educational dance content and sharing it online almost immediately, so that kids and families would have something to look forward to from Dance Daze, Inc. each day. This resulted in many products over the next two years, the first of which was the Dance Daze At Home Challenge, a daily series of a short educational video, a related reading page, and a wordsearch with academic vocabulary for elementary-aged children. Check out these videos and activities below.
Click the images below to download the related reading page and word search activities! The reading page and one wordsearch is designed for students in grades 2nd through 5th, and the shorter wordsearch is designed for students in kindergarten through 1st grade.
Thank you for checking out the second Dance Daze At Home Challenge! For today’s challenge, I’m asking: How long can you balance? (I balance for this entire video that’s just a little over 2 minutes long! I did have one tiny fall during this recording, though, but this wasn’t my first take!) Are you able to balance on one leg, on two legs, on your side while laying on the floor, or while doing a handstand? I love balancing on one leg while playing a game of freeze dance! What is your favorite way to balance? If you participate in this challenge, be sure to share your photos and videos using the hashtag #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge!
Click the images below to download the related reading page and word search activities! The reading page and one wordsearch is designed for students in grades 2nd through 5th, and the shorter wordsearch is designed for students in kindergarten through 1st grade.
For #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 3, we are focusing on static stretches! Static stretching can help us become more flexible over time. We should do static stretching after participating in physical activities and after our body is already warm. What are your favorite static stretches that you can hold for 20 to 45 seconds?
Click the images below to download the related reading page and word search activities! The reading page and one wordsearch is designed for students in grades 2nd through 5th, and the shorter wordsearch is designed for students in kindergarten through 1st grade.
Click the images below to download the related reading page and word search activities! The reading page and one wordsearch is designed for students in grades 2nd through 5th, and the shorter wordsearch is designed for students in kindergarten through 1st grade.
In our fifth #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge video, we are putting together all of the elements that we talked about this week into a short piece of choreography, also known as a movement sentence. Try it out with me!
Click the images below to download the related reading page and word search activities! The reading page and one wordsearch is designed for students in grades 2nd through 5th, and the shorter wordsearch is designed for students in kindergarten through 1st grade.
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 6, we are continuing to think about ways to create dance. So, today I am challenging you to use the basic elements of dance (Body, Energy, Space, and Time) to create a new piece of choreography!
For #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 7, I’m asking you to use different pathways to create your own dance! Can you think of a way to include straight, curvy, and zig zag pathways into a dance that you create?
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 8, we are getting a little silly and using some big words to talk about the game of freeze dance! Can you believe it?! Did you know that freeze dance is a great activity to help us develop important skills and practices, such as impulse control, mindfulness, metacognition, problem-solving, and creativity? If you didn’t know, now you do!
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 9, I’m asking you to use your imagination to create something new! You can create a dance costume, a dance prop, a piece of visual art, a poem, or… maybe you’ll even start your own video series!
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 10, we are talking about rhythm! Did you know that rhythm is an element of dance, music, and poetry? That’s right. Each of those types of art uses rhythm to express ideas. Can you find an instrument to create rhythm? We can use our body, sticks, a pot and a spoon, or our voice as the instrument that we use to create and explore rhythm.
Make Your Own Tap Shoes
Back in 2020, during the pandemic, I found some awesome resources that other educators were creating for kids! That includes the instructions for how to make your own tap shoes below! I was not able to find the original creators of the materials below, but if you find them, please email me (saumirah@dancedaze.org) and let me know so that I may give proper credit!
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 11, we are tap dancing! We are practicing our heel digs and working on a heel dig combination. Can you do a version of the combination I demonstrate in this video?
You may download today’s coloring page by clicking the image to the left!
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 12, we are practicing toe taps! A toe tap is a move that you can do to the front, side, or back of your body. To do this move, you use your ankle and strike or smack the floor with the ball of your foot. The heel of your tap shoe should not touch the floor. Can you do today’s toe tap combination?
You may download today’s coloring page by clicking the image to the right!
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 13, we are practicing shuffles and learning a new combination that focuses on shuffles! The combination also includes a hop, a ball-change, and a step. Can you do this Dance Daze At Home Challenge?
You may download today’s coloring page by clicking the image to the left!
In this #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge we are practicing flaps! We also learn a tap dance combination that includes flaps, and we practice the combination facing different directions. Enjoy!
You may download today’s coloring page by clicking the image to the right!
In #DanceDazeAtHomeChallenge 15, we are doing a tricky combination with toe tips!
You may download today’s coloring page by clicking the image to the left!
Covid-19 Time Capsule
Below is a link to a 2020 Covid-19 time capsule for children that another educator created. You may download the PDF by clicking the image below.
I originally created and compiled all of the above content (and much more!) in March and April of 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Little did I know then all that I would create in the following years. Now, in re-uploading all of this in September of 2022, I am filled with gratitude for life, creativity, and the ability to share with all who have and who will join me in dancing colorfully through the journey. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being you.
Dance Daze, Inc. 