Music & dance
Musical Statues
Also called Statue Dance, Statues, Freeze
Dance while the music plays, freeze like a statue when it stops; anyone who wobbles or laughs is out.
- people
- 6–50
- time
- 10 min
- energy
- High
- materials
- Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Before you start
Clear a dance space free of chairs and toys. Stand where you can see every player.
- 1Everyone dances while the music plays.
- 2When the music stops, everyone freezes in place.
- 3Anyone who moves, wobbles or giggles during the freeze is out.
- 4Play continues until one statue is left.
What to say3
- 1“Dance, dance, dance! Bigger moves!”
- 2“FREEZE! Nobody move… I saw that wobble!”
- 3“Two statues left! Who can hold it longest?”
Host tips3
- Arguments about “I didn't move!” ruin it for small kids. Judge firmly and fast, and let eliminated kids become judges so being out still feels fun.
- Long freezes are boring and short freezes catch nobody. Hold the first freezes for 3 seconds, then stretch them to 6–8 as players drop out.
- In the distraction variant, kids start poking statues. Make touching an instant out for the distractor.
Variants2
Themed statues
Call a theme as the music stops — animals, superheroes, Christmas — and players freeze in that pose.
Distraction
Eliminated players may make funny faces at the statues to make them laugh, but may not touch them.
Safety1
- Clear toys and furniture from the floor — kids freeze mid-spin and lose balance.
Good for
Occasions
BirthdaySchoolChristmasFiesta
Venues
Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOutdoorChurch hall
If this one dies early8
- Stop DanceEveryone dances while the music plays; when it stops, the host shouts a command and the last person to obey is out.
- Pass the ParcelA gift wrapped in many layers is passed around a circle to music; whoever holds it when the music stops unwraps one layer.
- Hot PotatoPass a small object around a circle as fast as you can; whoever holds it when the music stops is out.
- Simon SaysPlayers copy the leader's commands only when they start with “Simon says”; obey a command without it and you're out.
- Pin the Tail on the DonkeyBlindfolded and spun around, each player tries to stick a tail on a donkey poster; closest to the right spot wins.
- Sleeping LionsKids lie perfectly still as 'sleeping lions' while the hunter tries to make them move or laugh without touching them.
- Duck, Duck, GooseOne child walks around a seated circle tapping heads; whoever gets called 'goose' chases them back to the gap.
- What's the Time, Mr. Wolf?Kids creep toward the wolf by asking the time and taking that many steps — until the wolf shouts 'Dinner time!' and gives chase.