Do the BRAIN DANCE with Ms. Bailey

Hi Preschool Families,

I wanted to share a little bit of information about the BrainDance for those of you who are interested. All of the following information comes from www.creativedance.org which is the web site for the Creative Dance Center in Seattle where I took my daughter to dance classes and also did some teacher training. Whether you choose to read past the rhymes or not, KEEP MOVING YOUR BODIES!   ~Sarah Bailey

Watch the video below or click here.

FIRST, THE RHYMES…follow along with the video!

BREATHE

Bubble gum, bubble gum, in a dish, how many pieces does (kid chooses 1-5) wish?

One, two, three…

CORE DISTAL

Twinkle, twinkle, little star…

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky…

(repeat 1st 2 lines)

CROSS LATERAL

Hey Diddle Diddle, 

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed,

To see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon

UPPER/LOWER

One for the money,

Two for the show,

Three to get ready,

Four to go

BODY SIDE

Tick, tock, tick, tock

I’m a little cuckoo clock

Tick, tock, tick, tock

Now I’m striking one o’clock, 

CUCKOO!

VESTIBULAR

Twist and twist in the washing machine,

Twist and twist ‘til we’re all clean,

Twist and twist in the washing machine,

Twist and twist ‘til we’re all clean,

AND SPIN CYCLE

We are all wet, we had better get in the dryer!

Spin and spin in the drying machine,

Spin and spin in the drying machine,

Spin and spin ‘til we’re dry and clean

Developed by Creative Dance Center Founder, dance educator and author, Anne Green Gilbert, the BrainDance is a full body-brain exercise based on developmental movement patterns that healthy human beings naturally move through in the first year of life. These movements help to integrate reflexes that are the foundation for healthy brain development. The movements develop our whole brain (brain stem, mid-brain/limbic system, and cortex). As babies, we did these brain-developing movements on the floor. As children and adults, we continue to review these patterns in a variety of ways to keep our brains and bodies strong. Cycling through these patterns daily or weekly may also fill in missing gaps in our sensory-motor system due to birth trauma, lack of floor time as an infant, or illness or head injury as a child or adult. The BrainDance was developed and inspired by the work of somatic movement pioneers Irmgard Bartenieff, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, and many others. 

This "dance" is an excellent full body and brain warm-up for children and adults and can be done in any setting. The BrainDance may be used as a warm-up for any physical activity; before tests, performances, and presentations; after sitting for long periods of time; as a break during computer work and TV watching; and to increase energy and reduce stress. It is a centering body/brain movement tool for brain reorganization, oxygenation, and recuperation. The BrainDance prepares us for learning and helps with appropriate behavior and social skills.

Current brain research has proven that exercise:

• Improves cognition and delays dementia by increasing the protein in our brain cells 
• Reduces depression by increasing the flow of serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals)
• Maintains flexibility through the release of synovial fluid in our joints
• Develops core strength
• Reduces fatigue and stress
• Increases attention and focus

We hope you have a great weekend!  Check back on Monday to see Mrs. Selken.