Submitted by Noreen Hofmann, Matthews, North Carolina

Idea posted November 30, 2004

This choreography for "O Kwanzaa" (from Music K-8, Vol. 13, No. 2) is very simple, but you definitely have to have the bulk of your students show a strong sense of timing for it to work.

  • We stand still and sing the first chorus and verse.
  • On the repeat of the chorus, on the syllable "kwan" of Kwanzaa, all step to the right, with a "side-close, side close" footwork, gospel-choir style. We stop footwork at the end of the chorus.
  • On the final word, "harambee," the three syllables are broken down as:
  1. arms straight at sides, pat sides of legs
  2. elbows stay at sides as both arms "lift barbells"
  3. thrust fists straight up to the sky and freeze

© Plank Road Publishing, Inc. - Used by permission.