Birdie/Chicken Dance

Child dressed in bird suitBackground

The Birdie Dance first came out in 1980/81 in Europe as the International Folk Dance of the Year. The dance was to be the symbolize the international language of dance, music and brotherhood. The motions imitate the movements of a bird or duck which is something that everyone can relate to.

 

Music: Birdie Dance/Chicken Dance, several versions. The version by "Brave Combo" gets faster and faster.

 

Group Shape: In a circle, everyone facing in.

 

Actions: standing, arm movements, skipping

 

 

Steps

 

Part One

Movement - Both Hands in front with fingers and thumbs motioning like a bird's beak, 4 times

Verbal Cue - 4 Quacks

 

Movement - Arms bent with thumbs at armpit and elbows flapping like a bird's wing, 4 times

Verbal Cue -4 Flaps

 

Movement - Arms at side, elbows bent and wiggle hips like a duck waddling off after being in water, 4 times

Verbal Cue - 4 Waddles

 

Movement - Clap four times, because you did so good!

Verbal Cue - 4 Claps, repeat

 

Repeat section 3 more times

 

Part Two

Movement - All join hands and skip, or polka to the left, 4 measures or 16 skips

Verbal Cue - Circle Left (point left)

 

Movement - Repeat to the right, 16 skips

Verbal Cue - Circle Right (point right)

 

Movement - Song goes back to part one

Verbal Cue - From the beginning

 

 

Variations

 

Movement - Spin in place each direction during part two, one finger on top of head (for comic relief).

Verbal Cue - Spin

 

Movement - With a partner, hook elbows and skip in a circle each direction

Verbal Cue – Elbows

 

Advanced Part Two

Movement, 1st time - Partner elbow swing, each direction

Verbal Cue – Elbows

 

Movement, 2nd time - 4 people (or whole circle if its a small group) point right hand upward and inward so fingers are touching each other, travel in each direction

Verbal Cue – Right hand, Left hand Star

 

Movement, 3rd time - All join hands and circle, left then right      

Verbal Cue – Circle Left, Circle Right

 

 

Translations

 

Wheelchair translation

Follow arm movements and use the torso to create the waddling motion. During part two, if possible, join hands with others in circle and gently pull child in each direction. Or let the child wheel him/herself in each direction.

 

Other Mobility translations

The dance can be done sitting or standing. During part two, children can clap, circle arms, or move arms as if traveling, sway arms.

 

Other Translations

Part one movements can be stretched out or rearranged in number to accommodate the child. Example: 8 flaps, 8 waddles.