Michael Hamblin and Jaclyn Brown break down a fun chair dance! Grab a chair and follow along!
Performed to Tchaikovsky’s perennially favorite Children’s March from the Nutcracker, all that’s needed is a sturdy chair and a little space within which to move, plus one or more willing children. The music, and therefore the dance, consists of several 8 count phrases grouped in repeated section patterns identified as A, B, and C. It’s best to practice each pattern separately before sequencing them with the music. When complete, the dance will follow an A A B B A A C A A B B A A sequence.
There is no music introduction.
Each child is seated and ready to move. Each one beat box (below) indicates the movement action to be performed on the beat. Once learned the music will reinforce the indicated movement.
Phrase A
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| stamp | pat, pat, pat | pat | pat | clap | clap | snap | (rest |
| (repeat) | “ | “ | “ | “ | “ | “ | “ |
| walk away | walk | walk | walk | walk | walk | walk | walk |
| walk back | walk | walk | walk | walk | walk | walk | sit |
Repeat A. Sequence A is always performed in pairs.
Phrase B
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| snap | clap, clap, clap | clap | clap | pat | pat | stamp | (rest) |
| walk | around | chair | walk | walk | walk | walk | sit |
After sequence B is performed twice, go back and repeat sequence A twice.
Phrase C
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| creative | thinking | shape | on | chair | hold | hold | hold |
| new shape | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold |
| new shape | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold |
| new shape | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold | hold |
Sequence C, all four phrases of 8, is performed only once.
Now having performed A A B B A A C (above) complete the dance with another A A B B A A sequence. When returning to the the chair to sit at the end of the last A segment, perform a finish with a grand ending shape on the chair.
Jaclyn Brown is originally from Roosevelt, Utah. Jaclyn hails from Utah Valley University’s (UVU) BFA Modern Dance program, where she performed with Contemporary Dance Ensemble, the department’s pre-professional modern performing group, and also choreographed and performed for Synergy Dance Company. Outside of RDT, Jaclyn performs with Monica Campbell & Dancers. As a member of these companies, Jaclyn has worked with nationally recognized artists, such as, Susan Hadley, Damon Rago, John Allen, Doris Hudson de Trujillo, Jennifer Huffman, Omar Olivas, and Mike Esperanza. Beyond her local training, Jaclyn also traveled to Spain for a study abroad in dance (2010). She also appeared in Alex Boye’s music video “Merci Bon Dieu.” Jaclyn was also honored to first perform for Repertory Dance Theatre as a guest artist in “Commonplace” (2013). Jaclyn is thrilled to be joining the company for her sixth season and would like to thank her husband, family, and friends for their unwavering support.
RDT appreciates the generous funding provided by the Utah Legislature and the Utah Board of Education that help make our Arts-in-Education Programs possible in Utah’s Public Schools.
