Hop-scotch, Little Brother To Dance

hop-scotch a child's game in which a player tosses an object (such as a stone) into areas of a figure outlined on the ground and hops through the figure and back to regain the object

Oh the lovely Spring days when the clumsy footgear of winter is replaced by lightweight sneakers or sandals, freeing the feet and the spirit to be light as air. So games are played. The pattern of hop-scotch is a game and at the same time is an introduction to Dance. One foot hop hop hop, two feet twin hop, one foot hop hop hop, two feet twin hop - and reverse. Was the stone picked up? The grid may vary, sometimes outlined on a sidewalk, a chalk outline on gravel or asphalt, according to region and custom. What is permanent is the choreography, a prerequisite to Dance.

When a child, did you play a game like hop-scotch which involves a certain footwork? Were simple tapdances taught to you in school? Were they easy to learn? And fun? Did dancing become a pleasure for you then and on into adulthood?

Alexander Pope wrote

...those move easiest who have learned to dance.