WORKING TOGETHER AS A GROUP
1: Select a song in an upbeat musical style you love. It should also have lyrics you feel are empowering.
2: Play the song a few times over and freestyle to the music and the lyrics: on your own, in pairs, small groups – mix it up! Just do whatever comes naturally. Turn the lights down low to create a vibe if you like. Taking time to chill and listen is ok too.
3: Now come together as a whole group and create a routine by piecing together your freestyle ideas.
4: Consider what formations, levels and relationships you will create between people in the space in order to reflect the particular feeling of empowerment the music brings.
WORKING IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS
1: Choose a music video which you think reinforces misogynoir and/or other inequalities and discriminations (e.g homophobia, transphobia, ableism, poverty etc)
2: Play the video and write down all the sexist and racist stereotypes referenced by the music video on sticky notes
3: Create a movement or frozen scene that combats or re-works the stereotypes referenced in the video
4: Share your movement or scene with other groups in your class, see if you can sequence them together into a performance or a digital story
5: Print out the lyrics to the song and read them silently to yourself
6: Discuss the lyrics you feel most strongly about with your group and note down some of these feelings
7: Take it in turns to underline a key word or phrase from the lyrics and cut them out
8: Place all the cut up words and phrases from the group together, move them around and play with the order to create different meanings and rhythms
9: When you’ve finished you might end up with a phrase, a poem or a new song.
10: See if you can combine your new words and movement to make your own music video challenging misogynoir or other stereotypes
Before you begin adapting this activity for the children and young people in your setting, read the section on Safety and Support.
Download this DIY activity here:
