We Will Rise by Ndlovu Youth Choir

Coaching Notes:

Pre-Teach: Yes, the interaction part
Focus: External
Purpose: Connection and celebration

Pre-teach the third and fourth move:

“In this song we will do a move that is lifting our arms for 8 counts and walking 8 steps. Every time we lift our arms, we do it with someone on the dancefloor, either someone near you or someone you spot from across the room. After repeating that a few times, we will travel towards the center as we lift our arms, and then travel back out.”

First move: On The Spot (OTS) shapes and stretches in a celebratory manner. Ask for creativity and use of levels. This part is rather short so you don’t have time to coach much.

Second move: Snap. Connect them to the rhythm before asking them to move the snaps around creatively.

Third move: OTS arm lift for 8 counts and walk/travel 8 steps. This is where the first connection happens in an in-person class.
On the 8 count arm lifts you ask your participants to “lift with someone” on the dancefloor. (This connection part is not relevant for virtual classes.)
You repeat lifting for 8 and walking for 8 four times.
It’s fine to wiggle your knees to the beat for the OTS part, because there is a little rhythm there.

Fourth move is building upon the third one:
For in-person classes you travel towards the middle of the room as you lift your arms for 8 counts, and travel back again for 8 counts.
For virtual classes you travel towards the screen and back. The travelling can be skipping, light run or 123’s.
It really doesn’t matter how you travel as long as it’s in a celebratory way.

Fifth move: Shaking body parts. Ask them to shake their shoulders, hands, hips, knees, head, anything that can shake.

Transitions:
0:00 OTS shapes
0:25 Snaps
0:40 Arm lift 8 + Walk 8
1:12 Travel arm lifts for 8 towards middle/screen and back for 8 (repeat 2 times)
1:30 Shapes
2:19 Arm lift 8 + Walk 8
2:34 Travel arm lifts for 8 towards middle/screen and back for 8 (repeat 2 times)
2:50 Shake
3:08 Travel arm lifts for 8 towards middle/screen and back for 8 (repeat 4 times)