[For Staff at Elderly Care Facilities] Simple Performances to Liven Up a Year-End Party
As the year comes to a close, some of you may be planning a year-end party to wrap things up.
Are you wondering what kind of performance to put on?
This time, we’ve gathered lots of recommended performance ideas for staff working in senior care facilities.
We introduce options like dances to famous songs that seniors likely listened to in the past, handbell performances, and simple magic tricks.
Try creating an atmosphere that encourages audience participation—ask for handclaps and make it enjoyable for those watching!
With these sure-to-excite performances, make some wonderful memories to cap off the year.
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- [Respect-for-the-Aged Day Celebration] Crowd-Pleasing Performances: Ideas That Staff Can Enjoy Too
- [For Staff] Energize Your Nursing Home Respect-for-the-Aged Day! Performance Ideas Full of Laughter and Emotion
- Entertainment and Performances That Delight at Day Services for the Elderly
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- [For Seniors] Recommended Songs for New Year’s Parties: Nursery Rhymes, Children’s Songs, and Popular Songs to Liven Up Even on Cold Days
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[For Staff at Elderly Care Facilities] Simple Entertainment Ideas That Will Liven Up a Year-End Party (1–10)
Matsuken Samba
This is a song often seen because it was created as part of Ken Matsudaira’s kayō show program and even appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Its charm lies in Matsudaira, dressed in glamorous costumes, dancing cheerfully with his members, so when you perform it as an act, be sure to emphasize both the glitz and the dance.
Although it’s called a samba, the melody is in the style of a Japanese pop song, and the rhythm is easy to catch, so the audience can really feel the beat.
The fluttery-tasseled sticks the dancers hold are also memorable, so handing them out and letting people join in by keeping the rhythm is a great idea.
Escape magic from a cardboard box
Magic tricks are a staple of any show, and the key point is whether you can craft a performance that truly surprises the audience.
Close-up tricks can be hard to see depending on where people are seated, so consider incorporating large-scale setups, like an escape from a cardboard box.
Follow the classic flow of getting into the box and then having sticks pushed through it, and invite the audience to participate in inserting the sticks so they can really feel the atmosphere.
The secret is that you quietly slip out from the back of the box, and if that gets exposed, you can steer it with a good recovery to create a comedic vibe—so it’s actually recommended to structure the act so it can be “accidentally” revealed on purpose.
Paper Cup Magic
When something mysterious happens right before our eyes, it both stirs our emotions with surprise and heightens our focus so we don’t miss what’s happening.
Here’s an easy magic trick that clearly creates that sense of wonder, using just a paper cup and a paperclip.
You put the paperclip into the paper cup, cast a magic spell, and then turn the cup upside down—nothing comes out, making it seem as if the paperclip has vanished.
The secret is very simple: a magnet hidden on the outside bottom of the cup attracts the paperclip.
Since the trick is easy to figure out if someone peeks inside, it’s important to keep things moving quickly and clean up swiftly.
[For Staff at Elderly Care Facilities] Simple Performances to Liven Up Year-End Parties (11–20)
Monkey’s Palanquin
This is a skit performed to the children’s song “Osaru no Kagoya,” featuring comedic choreography in monkey costumes.
It’s important to choose a well-known nursery rhyme with a light, lively tempo so the audience can join in with handclaps and really feel the fun.
Not only the costumes but also posture matters—the more you embody a monkey and bring out the comedy, the more enjoyable the whole act becomes.
Since monkeys are often seen as mischievous, it’s also recommended to playfully tease and involve the audience as part of the performance.
The Drifters’ Big Laughter
This recreates the ending scene of the variety show “Dorifu Daibakushō,” which featured The Drifters.
To the song “Sayonara Suru no wa Tsurai Kedo,” the members sway their bodies slowly while a cheer dance is performed in front of them.
When staging it as a performance, it’s recommended to highlight the contrast between the members’ languid vibe and the cheer dance.
Even within the relaxed mood, each member’s movements have subtle differences, so it might be interesting to focus on those fine details as well.
tablecloth trick
It’s a classic hidden-talent performance: yanking a tablecloth out from under tableware so the dishes don’t fall.
Because you’ll know whether it’s a success or failure in an instant, make sure the audience focuses intently so they don’t miss the action.
It’s important to learn various tips—such as the condition of the tablecloth, how to pull it, and how much force to use—to steadily improve your success rate.
Even with lots of practice and a good feel for the technique, there’s always some chance of failure, so it’s recommended to use tableware that’s less likely to cause injury if it breaks.
Season of Love
In dance, it’s not just about technique—the key point is how fully you can convey the song’s worldview.
Here, the world of Pinky & Killers’ “Koi no Kisetsu” is clearly expressed through the costumes and choreography.
The costumes evoke tuxedos, and the effective use of canes and top hats accentuates the mood of the piece.
Even at a slow tempo, it may be important to create a sense of unity by synchronizing the size and timing of the movements.