New Music Monday: Halloween Playlist

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Tired of the playing the Kidz Bop version of "The Monster Mash"* or "Who Let The Ghosts Out"* for your halloween class yet? Here's a fresh group of creepy and spooky songs just in time for the spooky season!

* Here's the link to that album in case you're not tired of it!

http://widgets.itunes.apple.com/itunes.html?wtype=4&app_id=null&country=us&partnerId=30&affiliate_id=http%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fstat%3Fid%3DQaW75AlCQx4%26offerid%3D146261%26type%3D3%26subid%3D0%26tmpid%3D1826%26RD_PARM1%3D&t=Halloween%2520Playlist%25202011&d=From%2520The%2520Dance%2520Buzz%2520Blog&pl=0,434962720,182920863,157192623,388158217,434961477,18623845,362996073,201458527,283170189,266397084,265518008,304173796,139988983,338722113PRESCHOOLERS
Boogie Monster – Recess Monkey – your kids won't be able to sit still when this song starts playing
Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus – Ralph's World
Looking for Dracula – Charlotte Diamond
Dressing Up – The Wiggles

13Sep2011

Playlist Update for Fall 2011

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Now that the studio is open and I’m getting back into the swing of things, I updated some of my playlists for class and wanted to share my favorite new songs with you! Most of these are from the Top 40 and some are old favorites, but hopefully they might inspire you or give you something new for the season!

Not offered on iTunes:
Pumped Up Kicks (RLYNX Remix) – Foster The People
Party On The Floor – DJ Earworm Remix – check out his other remixes too!

5Sep2011

New Music Monday: Work Playlist

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

It’s Labor Day here in the United States, so in honor, here is a short work-inspired playlist to with a little something for everyone!

These songs would also work great for a job-themed recital – we did “Work & Play” a few years back.
Continue reading →

19Aug2011

Theme Playlist: "Circus"

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Fill your show with death-defying dances inspired by the big top! This post was inspired by the SYTYCD routine by Tyce Diorio “The Circus Sets Up” (music from Water for Elephants soundtrack)

Welcome To The Big Top!
Charmed I’m Sure – Circus Contraption – very dark and scary – definitely for mature dancers
At The Circus – Dance A Story – Richard Maddock
Happy Boys and Happy Girls – Aqua – a cute young jazz or hip hop
Glitter In The Air – Pink – slower lyrical song

Animals & Performers
Animal Crackers – my favorite version is Joanie Bartels
Talk To The Animals – The Broadway Kids Buy From Amazon

Lion Tamer – Sylvia – Prelude: The Huntress
Ponies – any sort of prancing ballet music

Treats Under The Big Top
Popcorn – Crazy Frog
Cotton Candy – Melany – great for Kindegarten age
Circus – Britney Spears

Clowning Around
Make ‘Em Laugh
Send In The Clowns
Tears of a Clown
Rodeo Clowns – Jack Johnson – a nice soft-shoe style tap song

Death-Defying Feats!
Tightrope – Janelle Monae – upbeat jazz or tap
Tightrope or Acrobats – Into The Spin – Dessa – the strings remind me of a tightrope
Acrobats – Tea Party – Kerli – great jazz or acro number
Sword Swallowers – Steel Dreams – Cirque du Soleil

16Aug2011

2011 Song Selections

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Just wanted to jot down my song list from this past year for posterity! (Or so I can look it up at a later time when I can’t remember what that song was I used way back when…)

All links open in iTunes, unless otherwise noted

Ruby Blue – Roisin Murphy: Large group jazz, ages 14-18
Firework (cover) – Sunny Choi: Small group ballet, ages 13-15 (YouTube link)
Crabbuckit – K-OS / Tightrope – Janelle Monae: Large group tap, age 14-17
Who’s To Say – Vanessa Carlton: Large group lyrical, age 12-14
Live It Up – Group 1 Crew: Large group jazz, ages 11-13
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk – Trace Adkins: Large group tap, ages 11-13, dressed up as old people…it’s better if you don’t ask
Sister Kate – The Ditty Bops: Small group tap, ages 10-12
Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine Band: Small group jazz, ages 8-10, with red sequin sneakers of course!
Waka Waka – Shakira: Large group modern, ages 6-9
Ma Belle Evangeline – Princess & Frog: Large group ballet, ages 6-8
Happy Feet – Joanie Bartels: Small group tap, ages 6-7
Funkytown – The Chipmunks: Large group jazz, ages 6-7
Trickle Trickle – The Manhattan Transfer: Large group tap, ages 6-7
Animal Crackers In My Soup – Shirley Temple: Small group tap, ages 4-5
Gravity – Sara Bareilles: Contemporary solo, age 18
Bubbly – Colbie Caillat: Tap solo, age 17
Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland: Tap solo, age 16
I Want You Back – Colbie Caillat: Tap solo, age 15 (YouTube link)

And my favorite dance for the year:

Oh What a Beautiful Morning / Flight of the Bumble Bee / Imma Be / Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows : Had two really small classes, so I combined them and the 4 & 5 year olds were flowers and danced to Oh What a Beautiful Morning. Then the 6 & 7 year olds came in to Flight of the Bumblebee and then danced to the chorus of “Imma Bee”. Then they all danced together to Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.

9Mar2011

Theme Playlist: "Sea"

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

A theme playlist for all things ocean and sea related! Whether your theme is “Beyond the Blue” or “Sea Cruise”, we’ve got you covered!

Children’s Music for Tap or Jazz
Under The Sea – Pop Version
At The Bottom of the Sea – Ralph’s World
Tidepool Boogie – Banana Slug String Band
Codfish Ball – Shirley Temple
Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites Album
…and anything Beach Boys

Lyrical / Modern / Contemporary
Sail Away – David Gray
The Ocean – The Bravery
Sea Shells – Sia
Sea Lion Woman – Feist
Part Like Waves – Psapp
Wade In The Water – Eva Cassidy

Character
He’s a Pirate – Pirates of the Carribbean
My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean
Anchors Away –

Ballet
Caribbean Blue – Enya
The Water is Wide – James Taylor
Aquarium – Carnival of Animals
Ripples In The Pond – James Newton Howard

Other
Saturday Night Fish Fry
Umbrella Beach – Owl City
Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
All At Sea – Jamie Cullum
Shark In The Water – VV Brown
Rock the Boat – Aaliyah
S.O.S. – Rihanna

Click here for more playlists…

7Feb2011

New Music Mondays: Modern Dance Playlist

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Click here for previous playlists
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This week’s playlist is an eclectic mix that has something for everyone, from instrumental tracks from around the world to beautiful and unique vocal tracks. Enjoy!

Children
Row Your Boat – Brent Lewis (instrumental)
Colors – Kira Willey
Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color For Your Eyes – Kristin Andreassen
Wake Up – Sliimy

Variety
Cat Walk – Brent Lewis (instrumental)
Dance Dance Dance – Lykke Li
Blackbird – Dionne Farris
Veins – Charlotte Martin

World Sounds
Ninja Tunesi – The Cinematic Orchestra (instrumental)
Sitar Ritual – Banco de Gaia (instrumental)
Waka Waka (Time for Africa) – Shakira
Siren – Tori Amos
Bowls – Caribou (instrumental)

3/4 Timing
Yin & Yang – Soulfood (instrumental)
Utopia – Alanis Morrisette
Sea Song – Doves

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Click here for previous playlists

31Jan2011

New Music Mondays: Preschool Playlist

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Inspired by last month’s post on Zooglobble, I set out to find artists featured on his blog to come up with a unique playlist for preschool dance that wasn’t filled with Disney artists. Here is my result:

Warm-Up Songs
One Tiny Light – Recess Monkey
Morningtown – Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem
C’Mon – Renee and Jeremy
Let Me Be Yours – Lucky Diaz
Funkee Flora de Fiesta – Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke

Movin’ and Groovin’! – directive songs
Constellation Conga – Recess Monkey
The Dance From Outer Space – Billy Kelly
Tennessee Wig Walk – Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem
Rocks & Flowers – Caspar Babypants
Stomp Stomp – Putumayo Jazz Playground

Other Fun Tunes
Going To The Moon – Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke – this would be a fun sing-a-long
Dog Gone Gone Dog Gone – Caspar Babypants – this is just a fun song to listen to
Frenzy – Dean Jones – your body just starts moving to this song!

Enjoy!

Click here for other playlists

20Dec2010

New Music Mondays: Children’s Jazz Playlist

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

A fun mix of pop hits, oldies and funk that will keep your elementary students moving and grooving in jazz class!

Pop Warm-Up & Cool-Down Songs
These songs have a moderate tempo to get things warmed up without hyping up the class. Great for exercises like “point / flex”, isolations and stretches. Sometimes I like to use them to calm a class down if they are very hyper.

Kiss The Girl – Colbie Caillat
Beauty and the Beast – Jump5
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You – Marvin Gaye
Do You Believe In Magic – Aly & AJ
You’ll Be In My Heart – Drew Seeley

Happy Tracks
Great beat, these songs would be good for class or for recital! They have a loud easy beat to hear and pick up on without being too fast. I danced to Dinosaur Rock N Roll when I was in 2nd grade and we had a “real” dinosaur (one of the older students) moonwalk across the floor like she says in the lyrics! It was my favorite dance!

Reach – S Club 7
Fun, Fun, Fun – Sugar Beats
Love Train – Sugar Beats
Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong – Spin Doctors
Dinosaur Rock and Roll – Joanie Bartels

Sugar-High Songs
Great for jumping jacks, jump across the floor or to inject some energy if your class starts to nod off!

Bouncin Off The Ceiling – A*Teens
Da Roof Is On Fire (Follow the Leader) – Soca Boys
Happy Boys & Happy Girls – Aqua
Tra La La – The Banana Splits

See previous playlists

Full Disclosure: I am affiliated through iTunes, so for each purchase you make directly from my site, I receive a small (very small) percentage of the sale. Thank you!

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13Dec2010

New Music Mondays: Contemporary Playlist, Part 2

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

The term “contemporary dance” has evolved over the past few years to encompass a variety of dance genres. On TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance”, it overlaps into lyrical, modern, ballet and jazz. Here is a playlist attempting the span the reaches of contemporary dance. Leaning more ballet/lyrical… check out the Slow and Delicate songs. Or pick up the pace for some jazzier selections. Miss your lyrical face? Bring on the angst!

Click here for Contemporary Playlist, Part 1

Soft and Delicate
Lighthouse – Hope
Breakable – Ingrid Michaelson (Bonus: 3/4 Time!)
Glitter In The Air – Pink

Picking Up The Pace
Move You – Anya Marina
Help I’m Alive – Metric
Rebellion (Lies) – The Arcade Fire

A Bit Angsty
Pitter-Pat – Erin McCarley
Nicest Thing – Kate Nash
Broken – Seether ft. Amy Lee

Off The Wall & Slightly Exotic
Hi – Psapp
Drumming Song – Florence & The Machine
Amazon – M.I.A.

Click here for the full playlist in iTunes
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If you enjoyed this post, take a moment to VOTE FOR US for Top Dance Blog of 2010 by commenting on the post (click this link). Thank you!