For Class, Choreography, And Performance

Dance Education Songs
written by: Pat Fields Kilgore
What Are Dance Education Songs?
  1. Fun To Learn!
  2. Fun To Teach!
  3. Fun To Perform!
The songs and music help to guide the children through the choreography. Side and front coaching is not needed, allowing the students to perform TO their audience. Parents and audience alike are usually amazed to see what little ones can accomplish. The children gain confidence in their ability to learn and enjoy a self esteem boost in the process. Because this is a positive experience for both child and parent, they are more likely to return to dance each year.
Positive, uplifting lyrics compliment upbeat music. As they have fun singing the songs, they will be LEARNING. All skills and behaviors are learned through repetition. Singing a song is EASY repetition. More like play, less like work.
Each Dance Education Song Download Includes:
  1. 1 Vocal mp3 file
  2. 1 Instrumental mp3 file
  3. 1 pdf file with Instructor’s Notes, Choreography, Lyrics, occasionally some related Dance History and Teaching Tips.

DES Barres-Technique-Warmups: Are:
  1. 2-41 mp3 files with a file for each exercise.
  2. 1 pdf file of Instructor’s Notes with Choreography, Lyrics, and Teaching Tips.

The First Dance Education Song:
When I first started teaching dance, I wrote my first “dance education song” to help my little students remember their ballet syllabus. The first song I wrote was We Are The Children Of The Ballet. I was amazed and delighted that this song worked so well and on so many levels. With the success of this song, I decided to write additional songs to cover every subject in dance education. I developed a system of preschool dance education based on the incredible learning potential of the these amazing little ones. This system includes simple songs designed to instruct, uplift, and encourage young dance students. I wanted my songs to be filled with positive values and good, solid dance instruction designed specifically for their mental and physical capabilities.
Research And Development
Extensive research on early brain development and receptivity in this age group helped develop the base for my program. Further classroom experience and experimentation with my early preschool classes helped give form and definition to my ideas. I then applied my developing theories to my own students with amazing results. In addition to attainable dance concepts and perhaps of more important and lasting value to overall child development; I included social principles like courtesy, taking turns, being kind and good class behavior.
The children absorbed ideas of mutual respect along with how to pay attention, and listen and try. What a delight to discover our little ones could:
  1. Intellectually grasp simple choreographic concepts
  2. Learn specific dance syllabi
  3. Understand some basic theory instrumental to good technique
Imagine how much can be accomplished in a classroom filled with eager young children who have learned how to listen, focus, and be positive, and respectful to each other. Think of how well prepared these children are when they go on to academic school. Dance Education Songs are fun to learn, fun to teach, and fun to perform. They are filled with attainable skills. Repetition is the key to learning new skills. Singing a song is fun, more like play, less like work. As they master new skills their confidence grows in their ability to learn. They can't wait to show their family what they have learned. On stage, in the recital, they should be able to perform their routine without coaches in the front or side of the stage. The music and lyrics help guide them through the choreography. They KNOW their dance and can perform TO their audience. The parents and other audience were amazed at how much their children learned each year. My preschool classes were filled every year and most of my students stayed with me year after year, many staying through high school and college. My students weren't just learning something cute to do in the recital; they were learning the rudiments of an art form. With an understanding of some proper technique and theory, they easily and naturally progressed to higher levels as they matured physically. Music and dance are wonderful tools for learning. Child psychologists and educators like Montessori and Piaget believed that a planned developmental program in movement should be part of every child's education.
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