Upgrade your ballroom, swing, or salsa dancing instantly with these five technique tips.
1) Lengthen your spine
Saggy bellies, rounded shoulders, curved upper backs, and turtle heads have no place in any style of dance. Your spine is curved, so don’t attempt to straighten it. “Lengthen” your spine while maintaining its natural curve.
2) Lead and follow from the center of the body
For dynamic dancing, the center of the body should actively communicate the direction of travel toward the partner’s center. This applies to forward, back, and side movements, and also to turning or rotational figures. Depending on the style of dance and the type of turn, the amount of hip, rib cage, or shoulder rotation will vary. What remains constant is an active center.
3) Keep your joints relaxed and active
Stiff or locked hips, knees, and ankles will limit the quality of movement. For athletic and fluid dancing, keep your joints relaxed.
4) Initiate movement from the standing leg
The standing leg provides the power for the moving leg. Before each step is taken, the standing leg should actively drive the body toward the direction of travel. In the sequence below, the leg in black transitions from 1) moving leg, 2) standing leg, 3) completing the action of the standing leg.
5) Elbows stay in front of the body
Provide space for you and your partner to move by keeping your arms slightly forward. In the image below, the side views of first and fourth position arms show the proper position for the elbows.
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Joel Minden, PhD, CSCS, provides strength and conditioning, sport psychology, and performance nutrition services for athletes.