Youth practice partnership in this fun and easy community builder.
This can also be considered a dance experience as youth experiment with movement.
Facilitator’s Note: This experience can also be played without music.
Example Video: Mirroring
Step 1
- Ask youth to find a partner. If there is an odd number, you can participate. Partners should face each other.
- Say, “When you look in a mirror you see your reflection. We’re going to take turns being a mirror to our partner by copying everything they do.”
- Ask youth to identify who will be the first leader and who will be the first follower in their partnership. Remind them they will each get a turn to lead.
- Ask all youth who are moving first to raise their hands, then ask all youth who will be the follower to raise their hands.
- Say, “The first leader will move and their partner has to copy exactly what they do. The partner should mirror the leader’s reflection as if they were a mirror the leader were looking into. When you are the leader, move slowly so the follower will be able to copy you at the same time. Making eye contact with your partner also helps you move at the same time so you look like a mirror.”
Step 2
- Play the first selected song or begin without music.
- Encourage the first leader to begin by slowly raising a hand while the first follower copies at the same time.
- Allow leaders to make up movements starting with their hands and their arms. Then they can begin to make bigger moves and/or travel slowly around the space together.
- Remind them to make their movements slowly and to keep eye contact with their partner.
- Wait about a minute and then ask the partners to switch so the leader becomes the follower and follower becomes the leader.
- Encourage the new leader to begin by slowly lifting a hand while their partner copies.
- Wait about a minute and then ask the partners to switch so the leader becomes the follower and follower becomes the leader.
Step 3 (Optional)
- Say, “Now see if you can switch between a leader and a follower without me prompting you or talking to your partner. Use eye contact and try to see if you can switch back and forth.”
- Encourage the first leader to begin by slowly raising a hand while the first follower copies at the same time.
- Remind youth to try to switch leaders without saying anything.
- Continue for as long as time allows.
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