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Super Simple Circle Dance to Klezmer Music

by | Pre-K and K, Primary Activities

Most kids are excited by the fast-paced, minor-key sounds heard in klezmer music, not to mention the virtuosic clarinet solos. They find it even more joyful to DANCE to it so I created a circle dance for ages 3 and up. Why limit introducing Jewish folk music to Chanukah? Use this dance any time of year!

st kids are excited by the fast-paced, minor-key sounds heard in klezmer music, not to mention the virtuosic clarinet solos. They find it even more joyful to DANCE to it so I created a circle dance for ages 3 and up. Why limit introducing Jewish folk music to Chanukah? Use this dance any time of year!

Fun Tashlach by The Burning Bush

“Fun Tashlach” by The Burning Bush is a zippy klezmer tune that kids are enchanted by. To be clear, this is NOT a Chanukah piece. If you are interested in Chanukah activities for the music room, check out this article by Jewish music educator, Mrs. Tanenblatt. I introduced this dance in December and will be bringing it back throughout the year. The kids would perform it every week if I let them.

Directions

Assemble students in a circle. Your Kindergarteners may be able to join hands, but I don’t have my 3’s and 4’s do this because there will usually be a kid who wants to turn the circle into an amoeba. For my 3-year-olds, They will do the side slide at different speeds, so I just let it be a whirlpool of kids going around. I also lay velcro lines on the floor as a visual cue. To see a really great adaptation for upper elementary, check out Music Ed with Missy‘s students using a stretchy band and adding a kick & hey!

Here’s a little demo of me doing the dance by my lonesome.

I hope your kids enjoy this dance as much as mine did! Feel free to add modifications for the upper grades, or simplify it further. With my 2-year-old classes, I lay out some instruments and have they play to the music.

st kids are excited by the fast-paced, minor-key sounds heard in klezmer music, not to mention the virtuosic clarinet solos. They find it even more joyful to DANCE to it so I created a circle dance for ages 3 and up. Why limit introducing Jewish folk music to Chanukah? Use this dance any time of year!

Hello Music Teachers!

I'm Jane, and I'm here to help make teaching more fun and less stressful by sharing ideas for the general music classroom! I've taught general music since 2009 and now focus on early childhood music.

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