teachers and educators in primary and secondary education settings.

• To encourage participants to let go of control and embrace spontaneity.

• To create a relaxed and supportive group atmosphere.

• To develop trust and cohesion among group members.

• To enhance self-awareness through the exploration of different roles (leader and follower).

• Here and now: engaging fully with the immediate experience of movement and connection.

• Self-awareness: reflecting on personal reactions and feelings in both the leading and following roles.

• Environmental & social connection: enhancing awareness of one's relationship with others through physical interaction.

A device to play music, with a selection of lively, engaging tunes.

10-15 minutes.

1.  Setup: participants pair up and decide who will start as the leader (a) and who will be the follower (b).

2.  Activity start: the leader (a) stands in front of the follower (b), who gently holds the leader's wrists from behind. The leader then closes their eyes to heighten trust and sensory experience.

3.  Movement exploration: with music playing, the leader begins to move, guided by the follower's gentle steering through wrist contact. Movements should be exploratory, allowing the follower to guide the leader around the space, encouraging trust and release of control.

4.  Role switch: after approximately 4-5 minutes, pause to switch roles. The former follower (b) now leads, and the former leader (a) follows, experiencing the activity from the alternate perspective.

5.  Reflection and sharing: after both have explored each role, participants share their experiences, discussing feelings, challenges, and insights gained.

• For larger groups, consider having several small circles of pairs moving simultaneously to ensure everyone is actively engaged.

• To accommodate different physical abilities, adjust the intensity of movement and encourage participants to communicate their comfort levels.

After the dance, invite participants to sit quietly and tune into how their bodies feel and how they experienced moving like their chosen “avatar.” Encourage them to reflect on the emotions and thoughts that came up during the movement and how connecting through dance affected their sense of self and others. Allow space for sharing insights or simply holding the experience internally.

• Increased empathy and understanding of the balance between leading and following.

• Strengthened trust and rapport within the group.

• Enhanced self-awareness through experiencing and reflecting on different roles.

This activity not only serves as a physical warm-up but also as a metaphorical exploration of teaching dynamics, highlighting the importance of trust, flexibility, and awareness in educational settings.