December 2024 content release article
How to make your lessons plans more festive
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, winter is coming. The nights are already feeling long and the studio heating is set to max! As the end of the year approaches, so too does the question of whether you’ll plan any festive themed classes or special events for your students. There’s no right or wrong answer to this – what you decide to do should reflect who you are as an instructor, the vibe of your studio and your student body.
Read on if you’re keen to add a bit of festive cheer to your classes, or click here to skip to the combinations.
Just want to see the videos in the classic layout?
Planning festive themed pole and aerial classes
Small changes like themed exercises, costumes, or prizes add a sense of celebration while still focusing on the goals of the class. These ideas add a festive touch without changing the class structure too much.
Lighting and decorations. Whether you add some extra sparkle or create a full-on winter wonderland, the feel of your space can really help rev students up for your lessons.
Create a holiday themed playlist. There’s so much music to choose from at this time of year; pull out the classics, make a playlist of ultimate remixes or Christmas number 1’s to match the energy of your class. Use them for your warm up and cool down or write a whole routine to teach!
Themed class content. Use seasonal cues to bring a festive touch to your teaching, for example in the warm up why not swap out high knees for “reindeer runs” or mountain climbers for “elf climbs”. This can go for skills on the equipment too – some might already have names that work with a wintery theme (star, angel, candycane) but don’t let that stop you making up your own festive pose names too!
Dress up. Invite students to dress in festive costumes or set up a theme challenge such as an “ugly jumper class”. You could even have prizes for the best dressed or most committed to the theme.
Holiday jams. Many studios close for a break during the holiday period but might open for a jam or practice session. It could even be a festive-free zone if that’s what appeals most to your students!
Looking for the micro tutorial? Check out the teachers tip section. If you’re working towards finding your front balance on silks, Alfa Marks will show you how to troubleshoot your technique.
Combo content
| Discipline/level | Combination | Featured move |
| Pole intermediate | Handstand low flow sequence | Sneaky genie |
| Pole advanced | Elbow hook hip hold to flatline scorpio thread through thigh hold, climb over to martini | Elbow hook hip hold |
| Pole advanced | Split grip handspring to cupid to aerial invert | Handspring |
| Hoop beginner | Kneeling elbow delilah to open delilah to stag turns | Kneeling elbow delilah |
| Hoop intermediate | Straddle through hoop to hip hold to thigh hold on bottom bar | Thigh hold |
| Hoop advanced | Delilah on the side to trapped split to arabesque open up split | Trapped split |
| Silks intermediate | Mobile to hiplock to cross catchers | Mobile |
| Silks intermediate | Candycane catchers to tinkerbell | Tinkerbell |
| Silks advanced | Tourniquet to flirty russian to hip lean | Flirty russian |
| Sling beginner | Gazelle climb over to hiplock to jade split | Hiplock jade |
| Sling intermediate | Sword stand to quick arabesque to seahorse | Seahorse |
| Sling advanced | Pull over and thread through to side back balance | Side back balance |
Move variations
Teachers tip
Silks micro tutorial
Finding your front balance – with Alfa Marks
Discover the secrets of front balance from flag in this month’s micro tutorial. Alfa will show you how to achieve the skill in the air with extra tips from the floor too.