Dancing Skeletons - La Danse Macabre The Bone Dance
Skeletons have been a symbol of death at least since the Middle Ages when they were portrayed as the Grim Reaper.
Dancing skeletons are featured as participants in La Danse Macabre* or the dance of death and as such skeletons have become objects of fear.
During Halloween skeletons are among the fearful monsters. These representations of the undead get paraded out as one of the many different scary ghosts, ghouls and goblins that people like to become for a night.
Yet Skeletons are just bones, bones that allow people to stand upright. They can be used as a fun and just a bit scary way to educate children about skeletons about death and bone anatomy during Halloween.
This lens is a collection of skeletons, skulls and dancing skeletons selected to entertain and educate, not to cause fear. It is a bit historical and a bit educational, but mostly entertaining with a lot of ideas and items for how to incorporate skeletons into your Halloween activities (educational or other).
Most of the video clips should be child friendly. I checked them out on my 5 and 7 year old. Be sure to view the entire video to make sure it is appropriate before sharing a clip with your child.
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* La Danse Macabre, also called Dance of death, La Danza Macabra, or Totentanz, is a late-medieval allegory on the universality of death. No matter who you are, no matter what your station, death comes to us all. La Danse Macabre, the dance of death is often featured as a row of dancing skeleton figures leading people from all walks of life as they dance their way to the grave.
Skeletons as the Undead
An animated skeleton is a type of physically manifested undead often found in fantasy, gothic and horror fiction, and mythical art. Most are human skeletons, but they can also be from any creature or race found on Earth or in the fantasy world.
Dancing Skeleton Books on Amazon
Disney's The Skeleton Dance on Wikipedia
The Skeleton Dance is a 1929 Silly Symphonies animated short subject produced and directed by Walt Disney and animated by Ub Iwerks. In the film, four human skeletons dance and make music around a spooky graveyard. It is the first entry in the Silly Symphonies series. In 1994, it was voted #18 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field.
Silly Symphony - The Skeleton Dance on YouTube
The Skeleton Dance is notable for being the first animated cartoon to use non post-sync sound. In 1994 it was voted #18 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field.
Disney Silly Symphony - The Skeleton Dance
This short was released in 1929. My favorite Silly Symphony, this used to scare me as a kid.
Runtime: 5:19
181196 views
10 Comments:
The Skeleton Dance 1929
Four skeletons, conjured up from their graves by the twelve strokes of midnight, dance and cavort to music. One skeleton beats mallet-like bones on the ribs of another. Yet another skeleton plays a cat like a bass violin, then others shimmy and Charleston. Everyone dances and plays until driven back underground by the cock's crow at sunrise.
The score includes an excerpt from Grieg's "March of the Dwarves" (1893) for the skeleton on the ribcage xylophone.
Source: Russell Merritt. LECTURE: Silly Symphonies. Queensland Art Gallery.
Dem Bones - Dem Dry Bones
It is an African-American Spiritual in the public domain, based on a passage in the Bible from Ezekiel 37:1-14. In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel visits a valley full of bones and brings them to life simply by mentioning the Lord.
The popular tune associated with it was written by James Weldon Johnson with lyrics by his brother J. Rosamund Johnson.
- Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Oh hear the word of the Lord!
The foot bone connected to the leg-bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone
The neck bone connected to the head bone...
Sources: National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services. Dry Bones (Skeleton Bones).
The Everything Development Company. Dem Bones. Everything2.com
Dem Bones on YouTube
Them Not-So-Dry Bones
- Them bones, them bones, them dry bones,
Now they're the working of the Lord.
Bones are heard of, but seldom seen,
'Cept each year 'round Hallowe'en.
But I've got a shockeroo
Right now there's a skeleton locked up inside of you!
Sparkly, Silvery, Shimmery, Spooky Skeletons
Skeleton Jewelry on Amazon
Skeletons and Dancing
you'd best teach it to dance.
George Bernard Shaw
Color and Make Your Own Dancing Skeleton & Paper Skulls
Different Activities for Children
Here are a few resources with skeletons or a skull to color, several for making your own dancing skeleton and how to make a paper skull banner.
- 'Joe Cool' Skeleton from Halloween Coloring Pages
- A "Cool" looking skeleton to color from the Kaboose.com Halloween Coloring Pages. This design even has enough space to add some scary words.
- Skeleton Dancing Interactive Coloring Page
- An online, interactive Skeleton coloring pages for children to color online. This activity is a way for toddlers, preschool kids, and elementary students to practice their mouse skills.
- Mr. Bones - Skeleton Halloween Craft
- A skeleton craft from Enchanted Learning. Create your own hinged, dancing skeleton.
- Halloween Crafts from the Toy Maker
- The Toy Maker has created a variety of Halloween crafts. Include are papel picado skull banner and a dancing skeleton.
- PDF File for the Dancing Skeleton from the Toy Maker
- A Dancing Skeleton that can be made into a craft from the Toy Maker. This is the skeleton pictured.
- PDF File of a Papel Picado Skull from the Toy Maker
- A Papel Picado Skull banner from the Toy Maker.
- Dancing Skeletons
- This is a how-to for making a set of dancing skeletons for your Halloween window display.
- Sugar Skull - Day of the Dead Activity Sheet
- A Day of the Dead Activity Sheet for children created by the Tohono Chul Park in Arizona featured a Calaveras de Azucar (Sugar Skull) to color and other activities.
- Make Your Own Scary Skeleton
- Print an activity to do with the song, the Scary Skeleton.
- A Fun Skeleton from Ben & Jerry's
- A Halloween Skeleton from Ben & Jerry's. This one is holding ice cream.
Dancing Skeleton - Japanese Style on YouTube
Morning Musume - Kasou Taishou 03/31/03
Morning Musume perform on "Kasou Taishou" March 31, 2003
Runtime: 2:31
361291 views
10 Comments:
Looking for Some Skeletons and Skulls to Decorate?
Skeleton, Skull and Bone Decorations from Amazon
A collection of skeleton and skull decorations for All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) activities. Grab your favorite decoration (I like the skeleton computer toppers) and be sure to vote for your favorite.
#4
24" Rubber Skeletons Decoration Halloween Deocrations & Novelties
Rubber Skeletons Decoration Halloween Deocrations more...0 points
#5
Glow in the Dark Skeleton Pick - Plastic Puffy Cupcake Decorating Topper
This is a fun way to add a little splash to your p more...0 points
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48" Inflatable Skeletons Halloween Decorations Halloween Props
Inflatable Skeletons Halloween Decorations Hallowe more...0 points
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Inflatable Skeletons Halloween Decorations Halloween Props
Inflatable Skeletons Halloween Decorations Hallowe more...0 points
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Grow a Scary Halloween Skeleton
Run for your life!!! This scary skeleton will grow more...0 points
#12
HALLOWEEN SKELETON SKULLS SHRUNKEN for HAUNTED HOUSES & HALLOWEEN YARD DECORATION - 3-PACK - NEW
Place these skeletons around your house to create more...0 points
#15
Skeleton Parts Table Sprinkles Decoration
Halloween decorating fun for your party table! Min more...0 points
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Ground Breaker Light Skeleton Prop
The'll be coming back from the grave in your front more...0 points
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Glow in the Dark Skeletons Halloween Decorations Halloween Props
Glow in the Dark Skeletons Halloween Decorations H more...0 points
#18
SMALL SKULL SILHOUTTE 17"Hx 16"W
SMALL SKULL SILHOUTTE 17Hx 16W Includes one 43 lig more...0 points
#20
Skull Doorknob Cover Halloween Prop
Skull Doorknob covers are a must to tempt your gue more...0 points
#21
Skull Door Wreath Decoration Halloween Deocrations & Novelties
Skull Door Wreath Decoration Halloween Deocrations more...0 points
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Skull Candle Holder Halloween Decorations
Skull Candle Holder Halloween Decorations candle n more...0 points
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Halloween Party Skull Decoration Cupcake Pan (B1067)
Imagine the look on your party guests when you ser more...0 points
#26
Large Bag of Bones for Halloween - 10 Pounds (BONES1)
Item BONES1 contains approximately 10 pounds of as more...0 points
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DELUXE HALLOWEEN BAG OF SKELETON BONES - FULL 28 PIECE SET - PERFECT FOR A HALLOWEEN GRAVEYARD or HAUNTED HOUSE
**DELUXE SET OF REALISTIC SKELETON BONES** 28 PIEC more...0 points
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Creepy Skull Toilet Brush/Holder Skeleton Evil
This awesomely wicked skull toilet brush and holde more...0 points
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Grim Reaper Skull Toliet Brush and Holder
This all in one toilet brush and holder is constru more...0 points
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Calavera (Skull) Eraser - Day Of The Dead
Kikkerland has scoured the globe and worked with t more...0 points
Move Your Dead Bones
Move your dead bones bones bones
The secret will keep you alive
Move your dead bones bones bones
Move your dead bones bones bones
You'll dance for the rest of your life
Dr. Re-Animator
Move Your Skeleton on YouTube
Move Your Skeleton
Sage advice to dead people from the legendary Stogey McZoot. Dem ol' dry bones got to get moving and "Dis this necropolis for the City of Light."
Runtime: 1:58
1297 views
2 Comments:
Want to be a Skeleton for Halloween?
Skeleton Costumes Available on Amazon
These costumes range in size from infants to adults from tame to the slightly scarier zombie version.
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Glow in the Dark Skeleton Child Costume
This glowing jumpsuit and gloves features a full b more...0 points
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New Adult Pair of Black White Skeleton Costume Gloves
Animated human skeletons are known to have personi more...0 points
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Adult Skeleton with Top Hat and Skull Mask Halloween Costume
Complete 5 piece costume. Cane not included.0 points
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Spooky Skeleton Costume (Size 8/10)
Includes mask with shroud, jumpsuit, gloves and bo more...0 points
#11
Skeleton Zombie Child Costume (Child (12-14))
Prowl the graveyard with rotting moss-covered bone more...0 points
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Skeleton Zombie Child Costume (Child (12-14))
Prowl the graveyard with rotting moss-covered bone more...0 points
How about a Skeleton Tee as a recyclable Halloween costume?
Skeleton Items on CafePress
Looking for Skulls for Halloween?
Halloween Skulls from Amazon
From candy molds and skull candies, to skull masks and beads and even a skull mug.
#3
SCARY SKULL LOLLY Halloween Candy Mold Chocolate
This is a first quality, tough plastic mold. It is more...0 points
#4
Vinatage Halloween Skull Prop Footed Candy Witch Bowl (SFB1)
Skull footed bowl is a great decoration to hold yo more...0 points
#5
Skull Skeleton Bathroom Kitchen Towel Holder Ring
Wonderful Skeleton Towel Ring Holder.<b more...0 points