Dance Breaks

Dance Breaks

Teachers: we have a solution for restless, unfocused students. Take a Dance Break! A Dance Break is a free, fun activity that gets kids of all ages moving in the classroom. We do the work for you! Videos teach students kid-friendly dance moves to popular songs to get them up and active. After just 8-10 minutes, they'll be back at their desks, calmer and ready to learn.

Why Dance Breaks?

  • They're an easy way to do extra physical activity in the classroom, which is associated with increased academic achievement.
  • You don’t need to be a dancer, our coaches lead the dances at every step!
  • Dance Breaks were developed with the help of teachers, are behaviorally-focused, and research-proven.

Tips: Keeping Dance Breaks Fun and Safe 

  1. Make sure you will be dancing on a non-slippery surface.
  2. Remove potential tripping hazards, such as cables and wire, and ask students to push in their chairs.
  3. Have students stand apart from classmates so they can perform the dance moves without injuring themselves or others.
  4. Create a designated dancing area so students know where to go without taking away too much time from their studies.  
  5. Assess if any students have health conditions (such as joint problems or asthma) that may prevent them from participating in dance breaks.
  6. Be enthusiastic, use positive reinforcement, and have fun with your students.
  7. Don’t forget to stretch! After dance breaks, stretching helps students get cool and calm before returning to their seats.

Access the videos

Why are Dance Breaks going to improve my classroom? What are the benefits?

Students' physical activity has been associated with better cognitive performance, so incorporating Dance Breaks into your classroom routine will have positive effects beyond physical fitness.

What makes a Dance Break the perfect brain break?

While most of the school day is spent sitting, Dance Breaks provide students with the opportunity to get active and moving. In addition to giving the mind a break, students are actively keeping their bodies healthy. Dance breaks are good break for the teacher too! Instructional videos lead the classroom, so the teacher doesn't have to. 

Does it cost anything to use the Dance Breaks resources?

No, Dance Break videos are free to watch and use. Feel free to share them too! 

How can I integrate Dance Breaks into my daily classroom routine?

It's important to set up rules and be consistent. Assign spaces to the students so they know exactly where to go when it is time for a Dance Break. Use similar phrases and signals each time to start and stop efficiently. The stretching component at the end will help calm the students before returning to their seats to get back to learning.

Can all students do the moves?

All students can participate to their own ability and make modifications if necessary. The moves do not require dance training, so they are made for all skill levels.  

How long will Dance Breaks take?

The instructional videos are 1-2 minutes long and the dance videos are 4-5 minutes long. This means that the break lasts between 8- 10 minutes. Once the students are familiar with the moves, you can skip the instructional video and just use the dance video, which will shorten the process. 

When should a class take Dance Breaks?

Many teachers take a Dance Break once or twice a day, but feel free to adjust to your individual classroom needs.  

What if I cannot play music in the classroom or do not have a sound system available?

The Dance Breaks can be done without the music, follow the moves on the screen and you will still get the benefits of the break.  

What age students are Dance Breaks designed for?

Students of all ages will benefit from the aerobic dance moves shown in the videos. Dance moves are simple enough that all school-aged children will be able to follow along.

Are Dance Breaks only designed for classroom?

No. Dance Breaks can be done anywhere. Try them at home too for some fun, simple, and free physical activity.

How do I encourage students who may not want to participate?

Our research shows that 93% of students "liked" or "loved" Dance Breaks. But for those students who may not be enthusiastic, allow students to take turns picking songs, this will get them involved and excited. Use positive reinforcement during the activity to let them know that they are doing a great job. Assign a student dance leader and be a role model - do the moves along with the students to make them feel comfortable.

Can Dance Breaks be personalized?

Students can do their own interpretations of the movements as they become more comfortable. Complexity can be increased by adding arm and leg movements together.

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Research on Physical Activity and Academic Achievement

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