Move to the Beat: Rhythm and Dance Moves

Put your hand on your chest right now. Feel that steady thump? That is your heartbeat — your body's own rhythm. Music has a rhythm too, called the beat. Every song has a beat that goes on and on like a clock ticking. Great dancers listen for it and let their bodies move with it. Today you are going to do exactly that.

Rhythm is the pattern of beats in music. Some beats are strong and loud; others are lighter and quiet. Together they make a pattern that repeats. When you clap on every beat, you are keeping time with the rhythm. Every dance move has a speed. A slow stretch works best with slow music. A quick jump works best with fast music. Good dancers match the size and speed of their moves to the music. Here is a simple way to start: 1. LISTEN — count the beats: 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4. 2. CLAP — tap your hands or feet on each number. 3. MOVE — swap clapping for a body move on each beat. You can use four basic moves to build almost any dance: a STEP (shift your weight from one foot to the other), a SWAY (rock your whole body side to side), a CLAP (bring both hands together), and a JUMP (leave the floor with both feet). String two or three of these together and you have your own short routine. WORKED EXAMPLE: Imagine music with a steady medium beat — not too fast, not too slow. Count 1, 2, 3, 4. On beats 1 and 2, step left then right. On beat 3, sway your arms. On beat 4, clap once. Repeat this pattern and you are dancing in rhythm!