Dance Routine Creation and Performance

A phone or speaker for playing music

Open floor space for dancing

A mirror (optional but great for practice)

Pick a song. Something with a clear beat, a good chorus, and a length of 2-3 minutes. Your child should love it — they'll be listening to it many times.

Listen through the entire song once. Map out the structure: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, final chorus, outro. This is the skeleton of the routine.

Start with the chorus. This is the part that repeats, so the moves will appear multiple times. Create 3-4 moves that fit the energy and beat of the chorus. Simple is better — a jump, a spin, a side step, a clap pattern.

Choreograph the verse. The verse is usually lower energy than the chorus. Use smoother, flowing movements. Maybe a sway, a step-touch, or a slow arm wave.

The bridge is the dramatic moment. Add a special move — a freeze, a floor moment, or a group formation change if dancing with friends.

Put it all together with the music. Don't expect perfection on the first run. Just get through the whole song and note which transitions are rough.

Practice 3-5 times. Each run-through gets cleaner. Add details: specific arm positions, facial expressions, exact timing of hits.

Performance time. Set up an audience (family, friends, stuffed animals). Introduce the routine, press play, perform, and take a bow.

Choreography is creative problem-solving. How do you fill 3 minutes with movement that matches music? It's harder than it looks, and the thinking process is incredibly valuable.

Record practice on video. Watching yourself back reveals things you can't feel while dancing — timing that's off, moves that look different than they feel, transitions that need work.

It's okay (and normal) to copy moves from music videos or TikTok dances. That's how most people learn choreography. Put your own spin on borrowed moves.

Group routines with friends multiply the fun. Formation changes (switching positions), synchronized moves, and canon (doing the same move one after another) look impressive and teach cooperation.

The performance is important. It teaches confidence, stage presence, and the skill of putting your creative work in front of others.