Irish Board of Dance Performance

Sample Exercises for the Modern Dance Syllabus

Important note for teachers These are sample exercises only. The teacher is free to vary the work and set the exercises as she/he thinks best.

Please do not use music or syllabus work from other examination bodies.

 

Preliminary One (Sample Exercises)

Introduction

Children run into a line and greet the examiner who will ask for their report forms.

Warm up

From the corner

8 Galops sideways swinging the arms in parallel.

Repeat from other corner.

Feet and Hands

Sitting on floor, knees bent, Arms and Hands tucked into body. This could take the form of a ‘story’ sequence. E.g. starfish on the beach, pointy elf mixing spells etc.

(1-2) Stretch R leg out in front fully stretching R foot.

(3-4) Bring leg in.

(5-8) Repeat with L leg.

(1-2) Stretch R arm up fully stretching R hand.

(3-4) Bring R arm in.

(5-8) Repeat with L arm.

Repeat all but stretch arms and hands out to the side.

(1-8) Shake legs and feet out in front.

(1-8) Circle arms in an outward circle shaking hands.

Curl body into a little ball and prepare to start again.

Repeat all.

Curl and Stretch

Again, this could be in the form of a story – e.g. sleepy hedgehog, fearful mouse, etc.   Commence curled up on the floor.

Stretch out into free position and curl up again.

No counts required. Repeat 3 times.

Bounces

Feet together.

(1–4) 4 x Bounces.

(5) Jump feet to natural 2nd position.

(6) Clap.

(7) Jump feet back to paralell.

(8).Clap.

Run and Mime

From the corner

A free run on the diagonal followed by candidates’ own choice of mime. Could mime a character from TV or nursery rhyme, an animal, a sport etc.

No counts required.

Dance

Teachers free arrangement. No set steps required. Could include running, galoping, mime sequence, bouncing and any movements from the grade so far.

Bow

 

 

Preliminary Two (Sample Exercises A)

Introduction

Children run into a line and greet the examiner who will ask for their report forms.

Warm up

In a circle, following a leader

2×8 Walking.

2×8 Jogging.

2×8 Walking with free arm movements i.e shoulder rolls, arm circles.

2×8 Jogging into a space then on the spot.

1×8 4x Jumping Jacks.

1×8 4x Bend and tap, hands on waist.

Free end position.

Feet and Hands

(1-2) Stretch R leg out in front fully stretching R foot.

(3-4) Bring leg in.

(5-8) Repeat with L leg.

(1-2) Stretch both arms up fully stretching both hands.

(3-4) Bring both arms in.

(5-8) Stretch both legs out in front, feet fully stretched, sitting up tall.

(1-2) Flex feet.

(3-4) Stretch feet.

Repeat.

(1-4) Shake legs and feet out in front and circle arms in an outward circle shaking hands.

(5-8) Bring legs and arms into body.

Repeat all.

Jump Sequence

Feet together

(1-4) 4x small jumps.

(5) Jump feet to 2nd.

(6) Jump feet together.

(7-8) 2 Claps.

Repeat twice.

(1-4) Jump tuck jump landing in natural 2nd.

(5-8) Free end position.

Galops and Skips

From the corner

8 Galops sideways on the diagonal swinging arms in parallel.

8 Skips up the side of the room to LDB.

Repeat from the other corner.

Run and Mime.

A free run on the diagonal followed by candidates own choice of mime.

No counts required.

Dance

Teachers own arrangement.

Bow

 

 

Preliminary Two (Sample Exercises B)

Introduction

Children run into a line and greet the examiner who will ask for their report forms.

Warm up

In a circle, feet together. 8 shakes of the hands from side to side, waist level. 8 marches on the spot. Repeat 8 shakes anywhere you like. 8 skips. Repeat x2, adding own finish. (Use natural opposition on marches and skips.)

Feet & Hands

Sit on floor. Prepare by stretching legs. Point flex x3. Flop feet and legs to relax. Repeat point flex (x3), bend legs in. R arm circle outwards. L arm circle outwards. Place legs again. Repeat the point flex. Both arms circle outwards. Finish.

Jump sequence

Bend knees to prepare. 4 x small jumps. Jump feet apart. Jump feet back together. Clap. Repeat x2. Last time, repeat the 4 small jumps, bend low and then a huge jump & finish. (Freestyle for last jump).

Galops & Skips

From corner. 8 x Skips to RDF, then turn and do 8 x Sideways galops down the side of the room to LDB. Finish. Repeat to LDF.

Run & Mime

Run 8. Mime 8. Seen from both corners. (Mimes can be anything – sports, occupations, animals, TV heroes, etc).

Dance

Dance of no more than one minute duration. Show: skips, galops, basic isolations, jumps etc. Props optional.

Bow

Wait 4. Step R taking arms out to side opposition. Bow head, drop arms.

 

 

Junior One (Sample Exercises)

Introduction

Children run into a line and greet the examiner who will ask for their report forms.

Warm up

In a circle following a leader

2×8 Walking.

2×8 Jogging.

2×8 Walking with free arm movements, e.g. shoulder rolls, arm circles.

2×8 Skipping.

Foot Exercise

Start sitting on the floor with knees bent, hands by sides.

(1 2) Extend R leg out, foot stretched.

(3 4) Flex R foot.

(5 6) Stretch R foot.

(7 8) Bring R leg in.

(1-8) Repeat all with L leg.

(1-4) Stretch both legs out sitting up tall.

(5-8) Flex and stretch feet once.

(1-4) Shake out legs and feet.

(5-8) Bring legs in.

Repeat all.

Limbering

Start lying on the floor facing RDF, knees bent, feet flat on floor.

(1 2) Extend Right out, foot stretched.

(3 4) Bring R leg back in.

(5 6) Extend R leg upwards.

(7 8) Bring R leg back into starting position.

(1-8) Repeat all with L leg.

(1-4) Extend both legs out, feet stretched.

(5-8) Front kick R leg.

(1-4) Front kick L leg.

(5-8) Bring both knees into starting position.

Repeat all.

Jump sequence

Start feet together.

(1-2) 1 Bounce into the floor using the plié.

(3 4) 2 Jumps.

Repeat.

(1-8) 4 x Jump and clap turning in a box facing R side, Upstage, L side, Front.

Repeat all on othr side.

Step ballchange sequence

From the corner 1 at a time.

4 x Step ball changes, hands on waists or behind back.

Repeat from other corner.

Dance

Teachers own arrangement.

Bow

 

 

Junior Two (Sample Exercises)

Introduction

Students run in onto line and greet examiner who will ask for their report forms.

Warm up

Feet apart face front, hands on hips. Reach up R arm, then L arm, swing both arms down in parallel & back up to chest height. x3 times in total. Clasp hands, bend knees and curl in (5,6), recover (7,8). Repeat the whole with knees bent on the parallel arm swing and a spin turn on the curl inwards.

Forward stretch

Face R side, feet apart, hands on hips. Fwd stretch for 4. Relax 3. Come up on count of 8. x4 times.

Front kicks

Lie down on ground facing RDF. Stretch out legs. 6 front kicks with alternate legs. Legs stretch out, then back in. Repeat.

Jump sequence

3 bounces, jump feet apart. Repeat. Then 2 bounces, jump feet apart. Wait. Step behind, side, front. Repeat x3 times.

Step ball change

From corner. Hands clasped behind back. 6 x step ball change. Step, finish feet together. Repeat on L.

Split runs

From corner. 2 small runs, 2 longer runs, 4 split runs. R & L.

Dance

Dance of no more than one-minute duration. Show: step ball change, galops, arm, shoulder and other isolations, back together forward combo and behind side front combo, jumps and use of different levels and timing. Props optional.

Bow

 

 

Senior and Graduate Level

Modern Dance Requirements

 We have avoided being prescriptive about the requirements for Senior and Graduate level Modern exams as there is much scope for variety (and confusion in interpretation!).

The teacher is free to choreograph and develop their own work to suit the ability of their students and enable them to progress safely and with confidence. It is important that progression is seen from one level to the next, to keep the work fresh and challenging.

The following guidelines apply to all Senior Modern Exams:

Introduction

Run in and greet the examiner

Warm up

A Full body warm up to include Plies, Tendus, travel, dynamic stretches and basic elevation.

Isolations

A sequence to show the articulation of the body through isolated movements of the Head, Shoulders, Arms, Hands, Rib cage, Hips, Knees and Ankles.

The combination can include basic travel and linking steps.

Combination Step

A short sequence to show the student’s ability to combine dance movement vocabulary. The Teacher can choreograph a sequence that comprises a choice of kicks, turns, pirouettes, jumps and leaps to suit the ability of the students.

Amalgamation 1

Amalgamation 2

The amalgamations should be contrasting in terms of style, e.g. the first could be a dynamic and fast one with elevation, isolations, turns etc. In the second there could be lore emphasis on line, expression, floorwork, etc.

Dance

 

Bow