Submitted by Ann Berman, Salem, Massachusetts

Idea posted June 5, 2002

I have 112 fourth and fifth graders. I took five songs and made them into "cast songs," and the other songs are being done by different classes. That will make my rehearsal schedule easier. Here is what I have so far... hope what I type makes sense...

Lighten Up

m. 1-24...soloist is downstage center with the soli group beside him. At m. 11, soli group has hands under chin and leans left as they sing. At m. 19, soli group has hands under chin and leans right as they sing. At m. 21, half the group leans left, half leans right (away from each other). Then they join the cast.
m. 25...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, slight bend to the left
m. 26...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, slight bend to the right
m. 27...fists at waist (2nd verse, hold belly and pretend to laugh)
m. 28...shake left pointer finger at audience (2nd verse, continue above movement)
m. 29-30...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, standing straight
m. 31...cast freezes with hands at sides
m. 34...cast freezes with hands at sides
m. 38...LH down, palms to audience, jazz hands
m. 39...RH down, palms to audience, jazz hands
m. 40...both hands point to head
m. 42...all make face
m. 43...use hands to pretend to talk
m. 44...LH down, palms to audience, jazz hands
m. 45...RH down, palms to audience, jazz hands
m. 46...hands to sides, freeze
m. 50...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, slight bend to the left
m. 51...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, slight bend to the right
m. 52...fists at waist
m. 53...shake left pointer finger at audience
m. 54...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, standing straight
m. 55...use pointer fingers to trace smile near mouth
m. 56...hands to sides, freeze

ON THE REPEAT FROM M. 25-34, I AM NOT CHOREOGRAPHING. THE KIDS WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT, WITHIN REASON! AT M. 34 - CODA, THEY WILL FOLLOW ABOVE DIRECTIONS.

m. 60...hands to sides, freeze
m. 62...jazz hands up at chin with thumbs on jaw, standing straight
m. 63...use pointer fingers to trace smile near mouth
m. 64...hands to sides, freeze
m. 66...jazz hands at face
m. 67...LH down, palms to audience, jazz hands, on beat 1; RH down, palms to audience, jazz hands, on beat 3
m. 68...LH back to face, on beat 1; RH back to face on beat 3
m. 69...chorus freeze with hands at face
m. 70...hands at mouth á la megaphone; on the 'raspberry,' hands open to jazz hands at jaw again
Hope you can follow this!

Blarney

m. 1 & 2...cast is standing in triangle shape, center stage, hands clasped behind back
m. 3...RF scrapes heel forward, scrape toe backward, plant foot; three movements on three beats
m. 4...LF scrapes heel forward, scrape toe backward, plant foot; three movements on three beats
m. 5...both hands across body at waist, pointing to Blarney
m. 6...head nods on beat 2 and 3
m. 7...hug self
m. 8...point to audience with pointer finger, then to self with thumb, three movements on three beats
m. 9...clasp hands together under chin
m. 10...both hands across body at waist, pointing to Blarney

Funny Face

We are following the notes written in the song. I will probably have the cast on risers for this song, with some kids spread across the front of the stage, and I might even send some into the audience.

Whacky Song

Not yet choreographed, but the kids thought it had a '50s sound and want to dress up in poodle skirts, jeans, and T-shirts and do a sort of "doo-wop" movement; something not too fancy.

I am probably the world's worst dancer, so this stuff is simple enough for me to do! Hope someone can use it!

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