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How to Learn the Panda Dance

Perhaps you're a fan of Jack Black and his 2008 movie "Kung Fu Panda." In it an unlikely but lovable panda becomes the great Dragon Warrior when he trains with phenomenal martial artists in their own right: a Crane, Tigress, Viper and a Monkey. While it may never be possible for you to become the next Dragon Warrior, it is possible to incorporate the styles of the Crane, Tigress, Viper and Monkey and dance the Panda Dance. Read on and get dancing!

Things You'll Need

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Non-restrictive clothing
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Instructions

  1. The Crane

    • 1

      Stand with your feet shoulders width apart. Let your arms hang by your sides, bend your elbows and make fists. Hold your fists at your waist.

    • 2

      Step forward with your right foot and tap your right heel on the floor two times. Keep your weight on your left foot.

    • 3

      Step back with your right foot and place your right foot back behind your left foot. Your feet should still be shoulders width apart with your weight on your left foot.

    • 4

      Keep your right hand at your waist. Bend forward and raise your right knee. Bring your left elbow to your knee right. Hold your left fist up with your knuckles facing away from your body.

    • 5

      Move your right foot behind your left foot and punch forward with your right hand. Step to the left with your left foot and punch with your left hand. Step forward and and to the left with your right foot, placing it to the left of your left foot, and punch with your right hand. Step left with your left foot and punch with your left hand. Step back and to the left with your right foot and punch with your right hand. Step left with your left foot and punch with your right hand and bring your right foot next to your left. Bring your fists back to your waist.

    • 6

      Repeat Steps 1 through 5 starting with your left foot.

    The Tigress

    • 7

      Swivel your hips so your body is facing to the left as your bring your right leg forward until it's a little over a shoulder's width from your left foot. Both feet should be facing left. Bend both knees and lower your body slightly. Raise your left fist, wrist and elbow bent, so it's higher than your shoulder. Keep your right elbow bent and your fist about shoulder height or lower (your choice).

    • 8

      Raise your right knee, lower your right fist to your waist and touch your left elbow to your right knee.

    • 9

      Extend your arms, your knuckles facing the floor, and pull your fists back to your waist while lowering your right foot to the floor and standing up straight.

    • 10

      Step forward with your right foot with your toe angled away from your body. Twist your torso to the right. Keep your right fist at your waist and swing your left elbow up so it's just below shoulder height and put your left fist in front of of your right shoulder.

    • 11

      Step forward with your left foot with your toe angled away from your body. Twist your torso to the left. Keep your left fist at your waist and swing your right elbow up so it's just below shoulder height and put your right fist in front of your left shoulder.

    • 12

      Turn your torso so you face front and step forward and to the right with your right foot. Keep your right fist at your waist and swing your left elbow up so it's just below shoulder height and put your left fist in front of of your right shoulder.

    • 13

      Step forward with your left foot with your toe angled away from your body until it is a little over shoulders width from your right foot. Keep your left fist at your waist and swing your right elbow up so it's just below shoulder height and put your right fist in front of of your left shoulder.

    • 14

      Bring your hands forward and up with your bent elbows at your sides. Make tiger fists by opening your fingers and holding them stiffly like claws. Hold your right hand above your left hand with some space between them.

    • 15

      Step back with your left foot and bring your right knee in front of your left leg and your right foot to the left of your left knee. Swing your arms out from your sides, your elbows slightly bent, maintaining your tiger fists.

    • 16

      Lower your right leg and swing your arms down until the back of your wrists touch. Repeat Step 9 three more times, starting with your left foot.

    The Viper

    • 17

      Step forward with your right foot, turning your body until your torso and feet are facing to the left while you look toward the center of the floor. Keep your left fist a little above your waist and swing your right fist down just below your waist.

    • 18

      Step forward with your right foot and swivel your body until your torso and feet are facing to the right while you look toward the center of the floor. Switch your fists so that the right fist is lower than your left.

    • 19

      Raise your right knee and kick to the front. Pivot on the ball of your left foot until you face to the left, and kick with your right leg to the side. Pivot on your left foot until you face the back of the room and kick with your right foot to the back. Then pivot until you face front and kick with your right leg to the right.

    • 20

      Put your right foot down and punch forward and up with your left fist while keeping your left fist at your waist. Punch again: right left, right, left, right.

    • 21

      Clasp your hands together and hold them up before you with your elbows bent, slide your right foot to your left foot and stand up straight.

    • 22

      Bend forward at your waist in a martial arts bow. Keep your elbows bent, but hold away from your sides.

    The Monkey

    • 23

      Start with your feet about shoulders width apart. Hold your left arm straight and angled a little behind your body. Reach over with your right hand, palm held up toward the ceiling, and touch your right arm just above your elbow with the side of the right hand. Step forward and to the right with your left foot, crossing it in front of your right foot. Keep both knees bent. Your body should be facing to the left while looking to the front.

    • 24

      Step forward and to the left with your right foot, crossing it in front of your left foot. Switch your hands so that your right arm hands by your side and your left arm reaches across your body (see Section 4, Step 1). Keep both knees bent. Turn your body to the left while looking to the front.

    • 25

      Step forward with your left foot, your body still facing to the left, and turn your head so that you look left. Push your hands forward until your arms are extended with the inside of your arms touching, your left arm on the top. Bend back your wrists and extend your fingers. This is called pushing the butterfly.

    • 26

      Pivot your body until you face the front. Lift up right foot as your right arm hangs by your side and your left fist crossed before your body. Kick to the left with your left foot. Place your left foot beside your right.

    • 27

      Cross both fists before the middle of your body, lift up your right foot and kick to the right as you let your right arm hang and cross your left fist before your body.

    • 28

      Bend your torso a little forward and to the right and swipe your left cheek twice with the back of your left wrist. Lift your left foot each time your touch your cheek.

    • 29

      Bob your torso down and a little to the left and swipe your right cheek twice with the back of your right wrist. Lift your right foot each time you touch your cheek.

    • 30

      Repeat Step 7 twice more, but touch your cheek only once, lifting your feet each time. Put all of the sections together and rejoice: you are doing the Panda Dance!

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