I love teaching musical theatre. Getting children, who are traditionally dancers, a little out of their comfort zone and having to act, really brings out a different side to them. Ultimately I hope that this makes them better well rounded dancers, able to perform and engage with the audience on another level.
As much as I love musicals and musical theatre, I am really struggling with song selection. Mainly as children during these classes only seem to want to do faster upbeat numbers, where they can show off great dancing. Because of this, I seem to be rotating a few and changing up the choreography which doesn’t leave me too inspired to create. Which is why in this piece I simply want to create a list of upbeat musical theatre numbers that could be my next go to show tune! I will separate them by age category and I hope this will be useful for others too.
6-10
Mungojerrie and Rumpelteaser – CATS – Great duet song for the upper bounds of this age group
It’s A Hard-Knock Life – Annie – Group song
I Don’t Need Anything But You – Annie – Duet song
Little People – Les Miserables – Solo song that could be rearranged to be a group song
The Crew Song – Anything Goes – Solo song with a bit of improvisation to be done to change the conversation
Queen of Pop – Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – Solo song for upper bounds of the age group
The Oompa Loompa Song – Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – Group song for little ones
I Know Things Now – Into The Woods – Solo
Consider Yourself – Oliver! – Solo that can be adapted to be a Group Song
10-15
The Rum Tum Tugger – CATS – A solo song
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat – CATS – Group song with solo parts
It Ain’t No Thing – Bring It On The Musical – Solo parts that could be adapted to be a group
Legendary – Bring It On The Musical – Group song with a strong female lead
Master Of The House – Les Miserables – Boy’s Solo song
Anything Goes – Anything Goes – Group song with a strong female lead
Razzle Dazzle – Solo Song with could be adapted to be a group number
Cool – West Side Story – A little slow but still upbeat
Fidgety Feet – An American In Paris – Male Solo
Good Morning Baltimore – Hairspray – Group Song
Welcome To The 60’s – Hairspray – Group Song with possible leads
You Can’t Stop The Beat – Hairspray – Group Song (Very Fast)
Time To Play – School of Rock – Group Song with a Female Lead
15+
Opening: I Hope I Get It – A Chorus Line – Strong dancers needed
Dance: Ten; Looks: Three – A Chorus Line – Solo Female Song
All That Jazz – Chicago – Jazz Group Number
Cell Block Tango – Chicago – Small Group
Roxie – Chicago – Female solo song with potential for a small group
Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now – Hairspray – Female Group
Ten Duel Commandments – Hamilton – Male Group (Rap-Based)
The Sex Is In The Heels – Kinky Boots – Group
Everybody Say Yeah – Kinky Boots – Group with a strong lead
Oom-Pah-Pah – Oliver! – Great as a group song
Forget About The Boy – Thoroughly Modern Millie – Strong Female Solo
Now I know this isn’t all the musicals there ever was, what I hope to do is slowly update this list. For now this is a good strong list with lots of options on for each age group. Many numbers are quite well known so do run the risk of having been overused, but others perhaps not so much.
Let me know what songs your groups love for musical theatre. I’d love to get some inspiration too.
RADanceFitness 