Walking Blind (Trust Exercise #1)

Type:  Ensemble Building.

Purpose:

• Encourage comfortability among the group.

• Encourage trust.

Procedure: 

• This is a silent activity.

• Students work in pairs.

• Partner 1 is instructed to close their eyes as partner 2 leads them around the space.

• Partner 2’s goal is to make their partner feel as safe as possible. They must determine what is best for their partner (without talking) – walking with both hands held, one hand held, arm around shoulder, etc.

• Let them wander for 2 minutes or so, keeping their movement slow at all times. Switch.

Reflection:

• How did you make your partner feel safe? What did your partner do that made you feel safe?

Falling Backward (Trust Exercise #2)

Type:  Ensemble Building.

Purpose:

• Encourage comfortability among the group.

• Encourage trust.

Procedure: 

• This is the first of a fall series, so it may work best to demonstrate first either with a brave student or with two teachers.

• Working in pairs, partner 1 stands with their back facing partner 2.

• Partner 1 is going to fall back (only a foot at most) into partner 2’s hands.

• Partner 1 shouldn’t take their feet off the floor, allowing themselves to rock back on their heels only, and should just relax and breathe (may close eyes if they wish).

• Partner 2 should assume a balanced stance (knees slightly bent, feet shoulder width apart and slightly staggered,  hands up and ready to catch their partner).

• Work until both partners are comfortable in both roles.

• If students seem wary of safety because of weight differences, explain that they only have to fall a very short distance to their partner’s arms and that this is an exercise more of balance than of weight.

• Step in and help if you have a particularly uneven weight distribution between partners.

• You can then move the students into groups of threes.  One student stand between the two “catchers” only a foot or so apart from each.

• The middle person can leave their arms down, or cross them on their chest as they gently fall forward and are gently pushed backward by the two outside students.

• Again, remind the students that their job is to create a safe environment for their team.

• Remind the “faller” to breathe and relax.  Switch roles until all students have had a turn falling and catching

Passed Around (Trust Exercise #3)

Type:  Ensemble Building.

Purpose:

• Encourage comfortability among the group.

• Encourage trust.

Procedure: 

• Arrange the students in close circles (6-8 students at most).

• One brave volunteer goes to the middle, arms crossed over chest.

• When the student is ready, they may fall forward or backward and then be gently ‘passed’ around the circle.

• Keep the circle in very tight to begin with so students can be passed slowly.

• Still insist on all students being in “ready balanced position” at all times.

• Really encourage every student to go – this is key for creating a group that feels equally involved and responsible for one another.

Reflection:

• What did it feel like to rely on someone else? To be responsible for someone else?

Do You Love Your Neighbor?

Type:  Ensemble Building, Focus.

Procedure: 

1.  Arrange chairs in a circle; one chair per person playing, minus one.

2.  One person stands in the middle of the circle and approaches a person sitting in the circle and asks: “Do you love your neighbor?”

3.  If that person answers: “Yes, I love my neighbor,” the two people sitting on either side of him/her, quickly tries to exchange seats before the person in the middle sits in one of their chairs.

4.  If they answer “No,” they continue with, “But, I love everyone who… __________” (i.e. …has brown eyes). Everyone in the circle with brown eyes finds a new chair.