[For care facilities] Liven up your summer festival! A roundup of performances by staff
At summer festivals held at senior care facilities, many residents look forward to the performances put on by staff.
Lively, summery acts are a perfect fit for the occasion.
In this article, we’ll introduce staff performance ideas that are sure to get everyone excited.
On the day of the festival, let go of any shyness and have as much fun as you can.
When staff spend the time smiling, those smiles are sure to spread to the residents as well.
Plan a joyful summer festival with must-have attractions like dance, taiko drumming, fireworks displays, and handmade portable shrines (mikoshi)!
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[For Care Facilities] Liven Up Your Summer Festival! A Roundup of Staff Performances (21–30)
Dance & Wotagei
A lively performance by the staff that delights with movement and rhythm.
It starts with a light, upbeat dance part set to music, then incorporates elements of wotagei using big hand and arm movements to create a visually impactful presentation.
Even with simple costumes and props, crisp movements and thoughtful timing can draw out smiles and clapping from the audience.
An energetic tempo, call-and-response chants, and varied choreography come together to create a bright, vibrant atmosphere.
Using glow sticks adds flowing trails of light that move with the performance, boosting the visual splendor even more.
Handmade watermelon-splitting
How about enjoying the classic summer event, “watermelon splitting,” with a homemade watermelon? You can easily make it using an instant noodle cup container, construction paper, and vinyl tape.
First, cover the opening where the lid used to be with red construction paper and secure it with tape.
Next, wrap the sides and the bottom with green vinyl tape.
Apply thin black vinyl tape in radial lines on the sides and bottom to create the watermelon pattern.
Draw black seeds on the red paper, and it’s done.
Lightly tape two halves together, then have fun “splitting” it by hitting it with something like a plastic wrap tube.
Little Dance
It’s a dance performed with a uniquely shrunken look, where each movement exudes cuteness.
With the gimmick of only the face being real and the rest a doll, it really tests the skill of how comically you can make the movements appear.
Since the motions of the arms and legs tend to be simple, it’s also recommended to exaggerate facial expressions to bring out the humor.
There are plenty of elements you can get particular about—what kind of movements to show to what kind of music, what costumes to use, and so on.
street performance
Street performance is a staple act at events, and the fun part is that you can see the effort behind it—whether it ends in failure or success.
To help people feel the excitement of street performance, it’s actually important to show some failures on purpose; the success that follows will stand out even more.
And since clowns are strongly associated with street performance, putting real thought into the costume can evoke a circus-like atmosphere.
We recommend taking on a variety of acts—like juggling or cigar boxes—and letting the audience watch you work hard as you rise to the challenge.
Tankō-bushi (Coal Miner’s Song)
Tanko-bushi is a folk song from Fukuoka Prefecture, best known for being used in Bon Odori.
Let’s showcase a comical dance set to its light, buoyant rhythm.
Since the song strongly evokes Bon Odori, we’ll center the choreography around that style and gradually add variations, including comedic movements.
The lyrics that depict the moon floating in the night sky are also memorable, so dancing in moon-themed costumes inspired by that image is highly recommended.
Your creativity will be tested in how much humor you can weave into this gently paced piece.
Donpan Exercises
Do you know the song where the word “Donpan” is repeated? It’s one of those tunes where, as soon as you hear the melody, you think, “Oh, that song!” It’s fairly well-known, but the composer and original source are unclear; some say it might be based on the “Donpan-bushi.” Using that Donpan melody to enjoy the “Donpan Taiso” could make for a fun performance.
Clap your hands, slap your thighs—make active use of any parts you can stamp or tap.
It’s an easy song to create your own choreography for, and highly recommended.
Tokyo Ondo: Senior Exercise
Some older adults may have danced in yukata at summer festivals, right? There are many different bon-odori songs across Japan.
Each region has its own distinctive style, and “Tokyo Ondo” is one of them.
Its lively call-and-response shouts like “Hai-hai!” and “Yoisho!” are characteristic.
The choreography and the sound of the shamisen further enhance the festive atmosphere.
Of course, it’s also nice to dance while seated.
Since this song is used to cheer for the Yakult Swallows, it may also appeal to older adults who enjoy baseball.
