How to Make Marionettes Dance
Making a marionette dance requires 3 movements, a walk, a wave and a bow. It takes practice to make the marionette do all three together.
Instructions
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Walking
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1
Grip the airplane controller while gripping the marionette in one hand.
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2
Lift one side of the cross bar on the airplane up and down. At the same time lower the opposite side of the cross bar. This will raise one leg on the marionette.
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3
Twist the airplane so that the marionette's raised foot lowers and the opposite foot rises.
Wave
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4
Hold the marionette airplane controller in your fist.
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5
Pull up the arm string on one side, leaving slack for the other hand so it will stay down. Pull on the string with the hand not holding the airplane. One of the marionette's hands will rise.
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6
Pull the arm string farther and the marionette's other hand will rise.
Bow
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7
Hold the controller between the thumb and forefinger. Take the rear control line that is attached to the marionette's back with your other hand.
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8
Drop the controller slightly so that the head bows as you hold the back line steady.
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9
Pull the back of the marionette string to make the bow lower.
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10
Combine the first 3 sections and the marionette will dance. Move the controller fast enough for the feet to tap. You want it look like the marionette is dancing with his arms and body involved.
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1
Tips & Warnings
An airplane controller is a wooden cross piece that the puppet strings are attached. It has two cross sections. The front is for the arms and the second cross piece for the legs. A center string is right behind the second cross for the back.
You can control how much the hands rise by changing how much tension you put on the arm string.
