Suzy’s favorite songs that can be used with any population or ages in dance/movement therapy or adaptive dance groups:
Warm-up
1) “Jailhouse Rock” Elvis Presley (Lower body- alternating feet and legs)
2) “Wipe Out” The Surfaris (Alternating upper and lower body to changes in music)
Theme Development using Props
Using squeeze balls to aid in the stimulation of hands and upper body movements. Clients can also share movements around the circle with group members mirroring their movements.
1) “Twist and Shout” The Beatles (Squeeze Balls)
2) “Walk of Life” Dire Straits (Squeeze Balls)
Using instruments to raise the energy level of clients.
Clients can also share movements around the circle with group members mirroring their movements.
1) “Great Balls of Fire” Jerry Lee Lewis (Instruments- Piano)
2) “Johnny B Goode” Chuck
3) “Land of a Thousand Dances” Wilson Pickett (Instruments)
4) “Shout” Isley Brothers (Instruments)
5) “Tutti Frutti” Little Richard (Instruments)
Using the Octaband ™ to expand movement repertoire and build team building skills.
1) “Fun Fun Fun” The Beach Boys (Octaband ™)
2) “
3) “Sugar Sugar” The Archies (Octaband ™)
Using scarves for creative expression and to expand the movement repetiore of clients.
1) “Ring of Fire” Johnny Cash (Scarves- multi-colored)
2) “Banana Boat” Harry Belafonte (Scarves- multi-colored)
Cool-Down
1) “Higher and Higher” Jackie Wilson (Deep breaths with arms reaching up and down to the music, instruct clients to breath in positive energy and breath out anything they do not need today, continue to send positive message throughout the song, possible group discussion on positive self talk)
2) “What a Wonderful World” Lois Armstrong (Stretching and reaching movements, ask group member to share one wonderful thing in their life)
