Pass It On

Divide the group into two.

One group starts spread out in the room, standing still on the floor. The other group stands along the edge, waiting for the leader to signal to start walking.

Variant 1: Listening with the back

When the leader gives the signal, the walking group begins to move calmly around the room. They should find a person they can stand behind.

When a participant has placed themselves directly behind a person standing still, the one who was originally standing still moves on and does the same with another – finding a person and standing behind them. This is how the exercise continues as a quiet, calm flow of people changing places and positions in the room. The exercise is simple to understand but can still be perceived as challenging.

Some might not perceive this as a dance exercise – feel free to call it a movement exercise. Encourage participants to stand as close to the other person as possible, without touching each other. If someone doesn't notice that someone is behind their back, they can just stand there for a while – until they notice it.

Some participants can step out of the exercise and observe from the outside. It is important that the exercise takes place in silence, so that participants can concentrate on sensing with their whole body.

This variant is particularly well-suited for larger groups and can advantageously be carried out outdoors in nature.

Variant 2: Body shapes and mirroring

The setup is the same: One group stands spread out in the room, still on the floor. The other group stands along the side, waiting for a signal.

When the leader gives the signal, the walking group begins to move at a calm pace around the room. They should find a person they can stand in front of. Once they have found a person, they create a clear figure with their body and hold this shape. The person standing still copies the shape as best as possible. Then, the one who was walking moves on to find a new person and creates a new body shape for them.

It can feel as if they are saying «hello» or giving the other a gift, which is received by copying the shape.

Those who are walking can walk normally between each stop. Those who are standing still maintain their body shape until a new person arrives and creates a new shape in front of them. In this variant, too, some participants can stand outside and observe.

Encourage participants to experiment with different body shapes: round, long, angular, twisted. Some shapes can be low to the ground, others in the middle of the body, others high up.

The exercise becomes extra inspiring with music that can help participants come up with new forms and figures with their bodies.

This variant is preferably carried out in medium to large groups and is well-suited for outdoors in nature.