PARADE OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS – Choreography

M 1-4 “The toyshop counter top is filled with wooden soldiers grand”

· Outside hand comes up in front (palm up) on “toy.”

· Begin All About Me on “counter top.”

· Hand down on “wood.”

M 5-12 “They patiently await the dusk as stiff and proud they stand. While children’s laughter fills the shop, the hours go quickly past”

· Chorus Yes move on “stiff.”

M 13-16 “But wooden soldiers long for night, when shades are drawn and then, at last”

· Sway to the outside, slowly, on “long for night.”

· Sway to inside on “when shades are drawn.”

· Return to middle on “and then.”

M 17-24 “The toy shop store is locked up tight, and everything is quiet for the night,

L together R together

when suddenly the clock strikes twelve the fun’s begun.”

L together R together

· Slow Step Touches (half time) – LEFT first. Steps happen on the underline words. Your arms will move up and down naturally. Hands in fists; raise arms to parallel with floor, as though holding a candle.

· “Fun” – Bring right hand to salute. Everyone uses the right hand. (Be Sharp!)

· “Be-“ – Hand moves from forehead straight out… again, be sharp!

· “-gun” – Hand down… sharp.

M 25-32 “The dolls are in their best array. There’s going to be a wonderful parade. Hark to the drum. ‘Oh, here they come,’ cries everyone.”

· Ad lib acting on “the dolls are in their best array.”

· Move in space.

M 33-36 “Hear them all cheering, now they are nearing. There’s the captain stiff as starch.”

· Bright faces on “cheering.”

· Point with outside hand to director on “There’s.”

· Hand down on “stiff.”

M 37-38 “Bayonets flashing, music is crashing”

· 2 step touches to the outside. (Split move.)

· Small starburst (2 hands) on “crashing.”

M 39-40 “As the wooden soldiers march.”

· Hold position…. Emote.

M 41-44 “Sabers are clinking, soldiers are winking at each pretty little maid.”

· 2 step touches to the inside. (Split move; return to place.)

· Small starburst with outside hand on “winking.”

M 45-48 “(1.) Here they come. (2.) Here they come. (3.) Here they come. (4.) Here they come. Wooden soldiers on parade.”

· (Same groups as the end of Mack the Knife.)

* The outside stage R group is 1.

* Inside stage R is 2.

* Outside stage L is 3.

* Inside stage L is 4.

· When it is your turn, put your hand to mouth as though yelling. (outside arm) Body lunges out to side.

· Hand pops out away from face on “wood-,” then slowly comes down “soldiers on parade.”

M 49-56 “Daylight is creeping, dollies are sleeping in the toy shop window fast. Soldiers so jolly think of each dolly, dreaming of the night that’s past.”

· Move in your space.

· Don’t forget the key change on “past.”

M 57-60 “When in the morning, without a warning, toyman pulls the window shade.”

· Step touch to L on “when.”

· Step touch to R on “with-.” (One step touch in each direction.)

· Chorus Yes on “toy.” This will come immediately after the step touches. Think of it as one move.

M 61-64 “There’s no sign the wood brigade was ever out upon parade”

· “There’s” – Bring finger to mouth in a ‘hush’ sign. Sharp.

· Hold it during “no sign.”

· Bring hand slowly down on “wood brigade was ever.”

· All the way down on “ever.”

M 65-End “Farewell to the big parade.”

· Inside sections of the chorus – Stiff wave on “farewell.”

* Swing outside arm toward you on “fare-.” (Like you are about to wave… cause you are.)

* Pop arm out to wave on “-well.” (Ends up out beside your head.)

· Outside sections of the chorus – Stiff wave on “the big.”

* Swing outside arm toward you on “the-.” (Like you are about to wave… cause you are.)

* Pop arm out to wave on “big.” (Ends up out beside your head.)

· Everybody – Bring elbow down on “pa-.” Pop hand all the way up on “-rade.” (Straight arm at a 45 degree angle from shoulder.)

· Remember to build the last note even though our hands are still. The last move is stiff.