The Dice Game

The dice game is one of my favorite games.  It is one of those tricks up my sleeve that I pull out if class is just seeming to drag along.  It’s for one of those days when I’m trying so hard to drill a new technique or teach a new skill, but my students just aren’t interested.  It’s also a great tool in and of itself to inspire choreography and help students put together their own dances!  The dice game is just a simple variation of Merce Cunningham’s chance dance.  Here are the rules:

1. Give each child a piece of paper and a writing utensil.  Each child will roll a dice five times, and write down the sequence of numbers rolled.  This number sequence is their “secret code”.  Don’t share your secret code with anyone else!  Then, they will reference the chance dance list (see below).
2. The students will create a dance sequence that includes the steps listed on the chance dance list in the order they rolled.  For example, if I rolled: 2 4 5 5 3, I would create a dance where I did (using the ballet chance dance list): Grand Battements, Leap, Chasse, Chasse, Turn.
3. Encourage students to do multiples of a step (i.e. 3 chasses or 5 turns), to do variations on a step, and to include arm placements.  Require a beginning and ending frozen shape.

Ballet Chance Dance List

1 – Balance

2 – Grand Battement (Kick)

3 – Turn

4 – Leap

5 – Chasse

6 – Pas de Chat (Step of the Cat)

Jazz Chance Dance List

1 – Leap

2 – Chaine Turn

3 – Roll

4 – Jump Full Turn

5 – Upside Down

6 – Shape or Balance

Modern Chance Dance List

1 – Roll

2 – Swing

3 – Breath Movement

4 – Balance or Suspend

5 – Contraction

6 – Explode

Extending the Activity:  Have groups of 2-5 students perform their dances for everyone to view.  See if you or the students can guess what their secret code was!

Check out the Secret Agent variation on the dice game!