In all of our dancing, working and understanding the use of the sides of the body is imperative for balance, control and a finished look and feel.
How we use our sides may vary from style to style given the look and action we are trying to achieve. The first and probably most important element is that the sides, front and back of the torso must always be active and engaged. There must be a lengthening or stretching action through the torso, all other body actions are secondary to the initial lengthening of the body.
In our Latin dances we are active through the back and rib cage through isolation, while this activity is important, we must remember to maintain the activity of stretch to avoid dropping our sides which can contribute to an awkward look and balance trouble.
In our Ballroom dances we often focus more on the length and stretch activity of our body because the general look of Ballroom reminds us of our posture. When dancing sway actions or rotating actions however, it is easy to drop your sides in order to access more flexibility. First we must remember that the healthiest flexibility is always going to be on the lengthened body. Second, when we drop or collapse our sides, it affects our balance negatively and can make your Ballroom dancing look stiff and rigid.
As you explore all of your dancing you must remember that all of dance begins with an active and lifted body, all other actions will then result more easily and comfortably making the dancing a more enjoyable experience for both you and your partner.
Jeff Nelson is a teacher at Dance Station. If you would like to take lessons with Jeff, or any of our teachers, call 505-989-9788 to schedule.
