CES Rhythms Team

The CES Rhythms Team is an after-school team which practices 3 days a week for one hour. I teach them various routines involving tinikling, lummi sticks, line dancing, ball handling, hoops, and ribbons.It teaches teamwork and dedication, cooperation, and coordination. It is a fun way to work on their physical fitness. It is also a way to show your students and Physical Education program off to your community. We have gone to local schools, malls, nursing homes, Headstart programs, and the annual Share the Wealth Physical Education Conference at Jekyll Island, Georgia.

A sample routine is below:

Routine # 4: Lummi Stick Routine
Music: La Fiesta by Will Smith

Starting Formation of Students are 3 lines:

Introduction:
(4 counts of 8)
1-4 cts. All students shake sticks up and to the right
5-8 cts. All students hit sticks together 4 times in front of body, waist level
1-8 cts. Repeat the above 8 cts. 3 more times

Chorus Part I:
1-2 cts. Step up with right foot and bring left foot together with right
3-4 cts. Hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level
5-6 cts. Step back with left foot and bring right foot together with left
7-8 cts. Hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level

1-2 cts. Step out to the right with the right foot, and bring left foot together with right
3-4 cts. Hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level
5-6 cts. Step out to the left with the left foot, and bring the right foot together with left
7-8 cts. Hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level

Chorus Part II:
1-2 cts. When you hear the words “all ladies in the house”: all girls, lift both sticks over head twice
3-4 cts. All hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level
5-6 cts. When you hear the words “all fellows in the house”: all boys lift both sticks overhead twice
7-8 cts. All hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level

1-2 cts. When you hear the words “Everybody in the house”: everyone lift both sticks overhead twice
3-4 cts. All hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level
5-6 cts. When you hear the words “La Fiesta”: All lift sticks straight overhead twice
7-8 cts. All hit sticks together twice in front of body, waist level

Section I:
1-2 cts. All A group hit both sticks on the floor twice to the right
3-4 cts. All A group hit sticks together twice
5-6 cts. All A group hit both sticks on the floor twice to the left
7-8 cts. All A group hit both sticks together twice

1-8 cts. All B group repeat the above 1-8 counts

1-4 cts. All A group hits sticks on the floor moving from right to left 4 times, alternating sticks
5-8 cts. All A group hits sticks on the floor moving from left back to right 4 times, alternating sticks

1-8 cts. All B group repeat the above 1-8 counts

Sticks move very fast here:
1 ct. All students point both sticks to the right
2 ct. All students point both sticks straight out from waist
3 ct. All students point both sticks to the left
4 ct. All students point both sticks straight out from waist
5 ct. All students point both sticks back to the right again
6 ct. All students move both sticks straight out from the waist again
7 ct. All students open arms so that the right stick points to the right, and the left stick points to the left
8 ct. All students shrug both shoulders

1-2 cts. All A group hit right stick and then left stick on the ground to the right
3-4 cts. All A group hit both sticks together twice
5-6 cts. All A group hit right stick and then left stick on the ground to the left
7-8 cts. All A group hit both sticks together twice

1-8 cts. All B group repeat the above 1-8 counts

1-2 cts. All students hold right stick over left sticks in front of body, chest level
3-4 cts. All students switch sticks so that left stick is over right stick in same location
5-6 cts. All students switch sticks so that right stick is over left stick in same location
7-8 cts. All students switch sticks so that left stick is over right stick in the same location

Repeat Chorus I and II
There is a two beat hesitation before starting section II

Section II
1-2 cts. All B group step forward with right foot (push step), pointing sticks to the right
3-4 cts. All B group step forward with left foot (push step), pointing sticks to the left
5-6 cts. All B group repeat the push step to the right
7-8 cts. All B group repeat the push step to the left

1-8 cts. All B group repeats the above 1-8 cts again

1-16 cts. All A group repeats the above 1-16 counts

1-2 cts. All B group jump two times turning ¼ turn to the right
3-4 cts. All B group hit their sticks together twice, waist level
5-6 cts. All B group jump two times turning ½ turn to the left
7-8 cts. All B group hit their sticks together twice, waist level

1-8 cts. All A group repeat the above 1-8 counts

1-8 cts. All B group jump and turn to the right 8 times making one complete circle, while turning right arm and stick above their head

1-8 cts. All A group repeats the above 1-8 count

Repeat Chorus I and II

Section III
1-3 cts. All students step to the left and continue around making a complete circle
4 ct. All students hit the sticks together in the air to the left two times very fast
5-7 cts. All students step to the right and continue around making a complete circle
8 ct. All students hit the sticks together in the air to the right two times very fast

1-8 cts. All students repeat the above 8 counts

1-2 cts. All students hold both sticks in front of chest side by side, while bending knees
3-4 cts. All students push both sticks up and into the air above the head, while coming up on the ball of the feet
5-6 cts. All students step the right foot to the right, and bring right stick out to the right, and left stick to the left
7-8 cts. All students place right stick on right thigh, and left stick on left thigh

1-2 cts. All student lean to the right
3-4 cts. All students lean to the left
5-6 cts. All students lean to the right again
7-8 cts. All students lean to the left again

1-8 cts. All students make a complete circle both arms from left to right, hitting sticks on every beat
1-8 cts. All students make a complete circle both arms from right to left, hitting sticks on every beat

1-2 cts. All students hold both sticks side-by-side and upright in front of chest
3-4 cts. All students point both sticks away from chest holding them side-by-side
5-6 cts. All students flip their right stick
7-8 cts. All students flip their left stick

1-8 cts. Repeat the above 1-8 counts

1-2 cts. All students hold both sticks, side-by-side, straight out from body
3-4 cts. All students flip both sticks
5-8 cts. Repeat the above 1-4 counts

Partner Walk: Formation is 2 lines facing each other-description below

1-12 counts:Partners: A and B walk toward each other, around each other, and back to their original spot
Hit the sticks together on every beat.

Repeat Chorus I and II
Repeat Chorus I
Short hesitation before starting again
Repeat Chorus I and II

1-2 cts. All students point right stick up and to the right
3-4 cts. All students hit their sticks together twice in front of body, waist level
5-6 cts. All students point left stick up and to the left
7-8 cts. All students hit their sticks together twice in front of body, waist level

1-8 cts. Repeat the above 1-8 counts

During the last two sets of 1-8 counts: Have the students back up and get in their finishing positions.

I have the back row stand, the next row kneels, the next row sits criss-cross, and the few in the front lay on their stomach, with their feet kicks up.

End of Routine

Variations:

You don't have to have a team, just incorporate rhythms into PTO shows, parent/student nights, etc.

Teaching Suggestions/Tips:

Look in PE books/magazines for routines.

Go to PE conferences to get new ideas and new routines

E-mail me for any help I might be able to give you to get started.

Adaptations for Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities love to be included in school activities, just as we all do!

Adaptations:
1.) Make them a pole holder if they can't jump.
2.) Add "simple" dance steps to be performed along side of the "main" activity.
3.) Give them a partner to work with.

Don't worry if they can't perform the exact routine like the others, they will be happy knowing they are a part of the team!

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