Dance Party + New Music = More FUN

We had our BEST dance party yet!  I intermixed some oldies, but goodies into my children’s music playlist and had a number of parents comment about how much they really enjoyed the music selection.  And for anyone who has never done this before… after 45 minutes of dancing the kids still went wild for Happy by Pharrell Williams.  They know it from Despicable Me, school, at home, wherever and absolutely loved hearing it at the library.  I ended up playing about 15 songs and we had a quick break about 20 minutes in for water.
I’m still having a difficult time getting the parents to dance too, but the music helped this time.  I also had a couple dads that danced – which I was really excited about!  I think the next time I offer this type of program, I’ll have to create a handout with the importance of music and dance for kids.  A few parents were really focused on getting there kids to dance just like Miss Laura, while I was trying to convince them that it wasn’t as important how they danced, but that they were dancing at all.  I offer this program as a place for kids to let off some steam, get some exercise, learn about rhythm and just have fun.  I definitely got a workout – we offered the program in the morning and evening which means I got an hour and half of cardio (boy, were my legs jello by the end of it!) But I know it’s important for me to dance, otherwise a lot of the kids might just stand around the room, usually if they see a “big” person having fun, they want to have fun too!

1. Oh Hey Oh Hi Hello – Jim Gill
2. If You’re Happy and You Know It – The Big Kidz Band
3. Yellow Submarine – Greg & Steve
4. No More Monkeys – Asheba
5. Rock and Roll Freeze Dance – Hap Palmer
6. Shake Rattle and Roll – Elvis Presley
7. The Tempo Marches On – Jim Gill
8. The Twist – Chubby Checker
9. Animal Crackers – Wee Hairy Beasties
10. ABC – Jackson 5
11. Drivin’ In My Car – Ralph’s World
12. Sing-a-Move-a-Dance – Colleen and Uncle Squatty
13. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
14. Clap Your Hands – They Might Be Giants
15. Fast and Slow (The Rabbit and The Turtle) – Laurie Berkner
16. Ants in My Pants – Gunnar Madsen
17. Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys
18. We Are the Dinosaurs – Laurie Berkner
19. Feet – Peter Himmelman
20. The Chicken Dance – Unknown Artist
21. Big Fun – Greg & Steve
22. Shoo Fly – Carole Peterson
23. Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley & His Comets
24. I’m Gonna Catch You – Laurie Berkner
25. The Hokey Pokey – Unknown Artist
26. Go Crazy Remix – Weird Science
27. Happy – Pharrell Williams