Dance in the Ring!: An Icebreaker Intervention to Get Moving

Happy Wednesday!

Are your little ones tired from the first couple weeks of school? Do they need to shake and wiggle out excess energy? Do you need an ice breaker for your groups? If so, I have an exciting and fun intervention for you! It is called Little (Girl/Boy) in the Ring. I learned this activity from a past practicum supervisor and I loved it so much that I had to share it. I was also inspired to add some fun adaptations. Little (Girl/Boy) in the Ring is based on the  “Brown Girl in the Ring” chorus. If you have not listened the song, click here to learn the melody. This song definitely reminds me of being in the Caribbean. What a great opportunity to teach clients a song from a new culture! Read our instructions below to learn how we do this intervention, it can be used for participants who need to work on following directions or it can also be used as an icebreaker. This can be done in groups or with an individual.

Step by Step

1. If you have a group, form them in a circle and be sure to leave enough room inside of the circle for one or two people to dance in
   • If you are working with an individual, create a circle with either a stretchy band, hula-hoop, scarves, or large blankets.
2. Begin playing “Little (Girl/Boy) in the Ring” on either a ukulele or guitar and ask participants to start clapping their hands (see lyrics and chords below)
3. Choose a participant to dance in the ring first and sing the first part of the chorus
4. Depending on your participant(s), instruct each of them to do a different dance during the second part of the chorus (see adaptations below)
5. Tell the participant to go back to their spot in the circle
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all participants have had a turn
   • If you’re working with an individual, have them dance ways when you instruct them to. As mentioned before, this a great following directions activity
7. End by singing the first part of the chorus and having participant(s) clap their hands or pat their knees

“Little (Girl/Boy) in the Ring” Lyrics and Chords

First part of the chorus

G

Little (girl/boy) in the ring

Tra la la la la

D7

Little (girl/boy) in the ring

Tra la la la la la la la

G

Little (girl/boy) in the ring

Tra la la la la

C                   D7                  G

(She/he) looks like a sugar in the plum

Plum, plum

Second part of the chorus

G

Show me your motion (or adaptation)

Tra la la la la

D7

Show me your motion (or adaptation)

Tra la la la la la la la

G

Show me your motion (or adaptation)

Tra la la la la

C                   D7                  G

(She/he) looks like a sugar in the plum

Plum, plum

Adaptations

Here are some creative ways you can have your clients move!

• hop on one foot
• hop on both feet
• spin in a circle
• pat lap and clap hands (pat and clap)
• Dance low to the ground
• raise hands up high and wave them side to side
• dance slow
• dance fast
• freestyle

Don’t be afraid to use this intervention with big groups because you can have multiple people dance inside of the circle at once. It can also be used for almost all ages, just substitute “girl” with “woman” or “boy” with “man” when needed. We hope you find this intervention fun and exciting! What do you use to let out extra energy? Do you have some great icebreaker ideas that you use with your groups? Let us know and enjoy the rest of your week!

Alannah Forstner, Toneworks Music Therapy Intern