Dream: Strike a Pose

2:20-2:40   

A movement sequence that walks you through holding your values.

Time length: About 15 - 20 minutes

Materials: Drum or garbage can/cardboard box/something to help create a steady rhythm that can be stopped and started at will. Poster with the following guidelines written on it:

•    Have fun.
•    This is about you.
•    There is no right or wrong.
•    Let go.
•    Take creative risks.
•    Acknowledge and expand boundaries.

Audience: Elementary school to adult, depends on wording or questions

The purpose of this activity is to get participants to physically embody a word.  Therefore, this is medium risk activity. It is important to acknowledge that risk with the group.

Instructions:

•    Review poster with the group and check for meaning. This includes the following:

1.    Asking “What does this look like and sound like?” for each guideline.

2.    Gathering consensus from the group that they can uphold these guidelines. This can be done with a “thumbs up; thumbs to the side; thumbs down” check.  To do this, after reviewing the list, ask participants if they can abide by the guidelines with a thumbs up (Yes! I can uphold these guidelines); thumbs to the side (I will live with them, but I’d like to clarify something); thumbs down (No! We need to discuss these more) vote. Make sure everyone has voted, and if anyone is a thumbs to the side or thumbs down, check in with them about what needs to change or be clarified. After clarification, recheck the group with another vote.

•    Explain that you will begin beating a drum. While you are drumming, participants should move around the room being careful of others space. When the drum stops, you will call out a word. Participants should get into some sort of physical shape that represents. Remind participants not to over think the word. This is about a gut reaction.

•    Check for any clarification needed.

•    Begin beating drum.

•    After about 30 seconds, stop drumming and call out the word “Box”.

•    Wait 30 seconds.

•    Begin beating drum.

•    After about 30 seconds, stop the drumming and call out the “Balloon”.

•    Wait 30 seconds.

•    Begin beating the drum

•    After about 30 seconds, stop the drumming and call out the word “Bridge”.

•    Wait 30 seconds.

•    Tell the participants that you will now be calling out more abstract words.

•    Begin beating the drum.

•    After about 30 seconds, stop the drumming and call out the word “Support”.

•    Wait 30 seconds.

•    Begin beating the drum.

•    After about 30 seconds, stop the drumming and call out the word “Self”.

•    Wait 30 seconds.

•    Begin beating the drum.

•    After about 30 seconds, stop the drumming and call out the word “Care”.

•    Wait 30 seconds.

•    Begin beating the drum.

•    After about 30 seconds, stop the drumming and call out the word “Rejuvenation.”

•    Wait 45 seconds.

•    Have participants relax their pose and shake it out.

•    Debrief the exercise using ORID. (Click here for more information about ORID).