Ms. Poppy Chiffon — the doyenne of dance, the baroness of ballroom etiquette, the sultana of Southern hospitality — is pleased to answer your dance-related questions. Here are a few queries that Poppy deigned to extract from her mailbag this week. If you have a question that you would like Poppy Chiffon to address, please e-mail her at askpoppy@dancestationusa.com. Ms. Chiffon regrets that she cannot respond individually to questions.
Dear Poppy,
I want to practice my dance technique, but I work 40 hours a week and take dance classes and care for my family. The only time I seem to have is walking from place to place. People would look at me in an obscure way if I began doing spiral turns down the sidewalk. Do you have any ideas how I can secretly work on my dance techniques.
Obsessive Technique Junkie
Dear Obsessive,
Oh my, do I have secrets for you, Sugar. First of all, while you are walking down the street try to feel your center or core. Think of moving your body all in one piece rolling through the feet. Check that your hips are under your ears. Are your shoulders down and in their sockets or up to your ears? Stretch your neck up and open your chest. Is your pelvis tilted forward or back? When you are sitting keep both feet planted firmly on the floor equally working your abdominal muscles. If you need more, I have a hope chest full of secret dance exercises, Sweetie. Good posture is a key dance technique.
Dear Poppy,
I like to work on my posture when I am standing in line at the grocery store or at the movies. I imagine the backs of my ears are lifting all the rest of me up giving me space between my all of my joints and freedom to move my entire body like I am flowing through the air. Do you think that I am crazy for using imagery for practicing dance technique? I think that I am being mindful.
Mindful
Dear Mindful,
You must look like a very prim person indeed standing in line at the movies. Of course, the simple use of imagery extends your ability to work on your dance technique outside your dance classes. The more you tell your body what to do, Sugar, the more it will do on it’s own. So keep bringing it together, your body and your mind as a whole, and your dancing will become a reflex of pure joy. What a great imagery for working on your posture. Everyone should try it!
