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Valentine's Day Dance Games & Activities

  • 6 days ago
  • 3 min read


Two children holding up their hands to make one heart shape with their fingers.

Valentine’s Day can be a fun opportunity to bring joy, connection, and creativity into the dance classroom without chaos or loss of educational value. While I typically keep games skill-focused and purposeful, I also know how meaningful it can be to lean into seasonal themes that make students feel excited to come to class. Therefore...


This month’s post is packed with Valentine’s Day dance classroom games, resources, and ideas that focus on friendship, kindness, teamwork, and creativity. These activities are easy to adapt for schools and studios with dancers of all ages. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or Palentine's Day, these ideas will help you keep your students moving, smiling, and connected.


Valentine’s Day Dance Activities and Games



1) Candy Heart Freeze Dance

A great activity for younger dancers or those developing improvisation skills. Plus, there's potential to give students a sweet treat. All you have to do is:


Play music and invite students to dance freely around the space. When the music stops, call one student over to randomly select one candy heart (or colored paper heart). Match the color of the heart to a specific movement quality (for example: smooth, sharp, heavy, light). Restart the music and have students dance again, this time improvising movements that reflect the chosen movement quality.


Materials Needed:

  • Conversation Candy Heart box or a variety of colored paper hearts

    • Valentine gummy hearts are a good option too!


Color movement examples:

  • Pink = Smooth and flowing - Like you've fallin in love

  • Red = Strong, sharp, direct - Like a heartbeat

  • Purple = Fluttering, quick and light movements - Like you're nervous or excited

  • Green = Focused curvy pathways - Like you're creating your own Valentine card

  • Yellow = Strong gathering movements that wrap, hold, and support. - Like a hug

  • Blue = Tiptoe soft and quiet - Like you have a secret

  • Orange = Melt - Like chocolate in your warm hands

  • White = Free choice


2) Improvisation Warm-up Prompts

Use these emotion-based prompts to guide improvisation and expression.


  • Dance like you’re sharing kindness (light, indirect, free)

  • Move as if your heart is glowing (light, sustained, free)

  • Show excitement without traveling (light, quick, bound)

  • Create movements that feel gentle and calm (light, sustained, free)

  • Dance like you’re giving a warm hug (strong, sustained, bound)

  • Move as if you’re feeling shy but happy (light, sustained, indirect, bound)

  • Show love using only slow movements (sustained, free)

  • Dance like your heart is beating softly (light, quick, bound)

  • Move as if you’re waiting for a surprise (sustained, indirect, bound)

  • Create movements that feel caring and protective (strong, sustained, bound)

  • Dance like you’re sending love across the room (light, direct, sustained, free)

  • Move as if you’re feeling thankful (light, sustained, direct, free)

  • Show excitement but keep your movements close to your body (light, quick, bound)

  • Dance like you’re floating in a happy dream (light, sustained, free)


3) Kindness in Motion Circle

Form a circle. Each student shares one kind word (or chooses one from a prepared list) and creates a movement to match it. As you go around the circle, repeat previous movements before adding the next.

By the end, the class creates a full “kindness dance” that reinforces memory, sequencing, and community.


  • Help (lifting, reaching, offering motions)

  • Share (passing, opening, giving gestures)

  • Smile (uplifting, bright, open movements)

  • Care (cradling, soft wrapping actions)

  • Listen (pausing, leaning, attentive shapes)

  • Thankful (hands to heart, gentle bows)

  • Include (opening arms, inviting gestures)

  • Encourage (upward motions, clapping, supportive energy)

  • Respect (calm, grounded, still shapes)

  • Friendship (mirroring, connecting, side-by-side movement)


Valentine’s Themed Choreography Prompts

  • Balloon

  •  Blush/Shy

  •  Butterflies

  •  Candy

  •  Celebrate

  •  Cupid

  •  Dream

  • Friends

  •  Gift

  •  Heart

  •  Heartbreak

  •  Hug

  •  Kiss

  •  Love

  • Love Letter

  •  Promise

  •  Secret

  •  Share

  •  Smile

  •  Surprise

  •  Together


Valentine’s Coloring Page



Looking for ready-to-use classroom resources?

Sign-up for our newsletter (at the top of the blog) for FREE coloring sheets.



Classroom-friendly Music Ideas


In need of musical inspiration with a theme of love, friendship, and kindness?

Check out our Valentine's Day playlists on Spotify and YouTube. These lists provide options for all ages and are school-appropriate.



Looking for special dance-themed Valentine printables?

Check out our shop:


Dance Themed Valentine's Day Cards
$4.40
Buy Now


By focusing on friendship, creativity, and kindness, Valentine’s Day becomes more than a theme. It is an opportunity to build connection and joy through movement. Whether your dancers are young, beginners, or teens, these activities allow them to celebrate in a way that feels meaningful, inclusive, and fun.


💕Happy dancing! 💕



 
 
 

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