Teaching exercise to music
Does each exercise have to start at the beginning of a 32 count phrase ie grapevine on count one and ending on count thirty two or could I start grapevine at count sixteen of the first phrase and end it at say count sixteen of the next phrase? What I am really asking is can I overlap 32 count phrases with the same exercise and do I have to start and end the class on count one and thirty two?
Personally, I start my choreography and moves on count 1 of 32.
That said, although I can hear, and feel, and teach to the 32-count phrase, there are lots of people who can’t hear it. Many won’t notice or care if you’re not on the phrase. A few will notice that something feels strange, but they won’t know what it is. A few will notice and know what’s off, but won’t care. And a few (me!) will notice its’ off, know why, and it will drive them nuts.
If you’re going to start a move in the middle of a phrase, you’d actually start at count 17, though. Count 16 is the end of the previous half of the phrase. At the very least, I’d encourage you to be with the 8-count. For example, you would teach movements in groups of 8 counts and you would start on counts 1, 9, 17 or 25.