Understanding how to properly align your body during different dance movements helps prevent injury and enhances performance.
Anatomical terms and landmarks: Understanding the basic vocabulary and locations of bones and muscles in the body.
Kinesthetic awareness: Developing an awareness of one's own body and its movements in space.
Alignment principles: Understanding the principles of proper body alignment and how they apply to various dance techniques.
Core strength: Developing strength in the muscles of the abdominal and lower back regions that support proper alignment.
Breath control: Understanding how proper breathing techniques can assist with maintaining correct posture and alignment.
Foot placements: Understanding the placement and positioning of the feet, including turn-out and pointe work.
Arm and hand positions: Learning the proper positions for the arms and hands in various dance techniques.
Head, neck, and shoulder alignment: Understanding how to properly align the upper body for optimal posture.
Proportions and symmetry: Understanding the relative proportions and symmetry of the body, and how they relate to proper alignment.
Floor work: Learning how to properly use the floor to enhance alignment and technique, including rolls, crawls, and other movements.
Injury prevention and rehabilitation: Understanding how to prevent and rehabilitate dance-related injuries through proper posture and alignment techniques.
Dynamic movement: Learning how to maintain proper alignment while moving dynamically, including jumps, turns, and leaps.
Partnering and ensemble work: Understanding how to maintain proper alignment while dancing with partners and in ensembles.
Performance skills: Developing presentation and performance skills that enhance posture and alignment on stage.
Floor barre and conditioning: Utilizing floor barre and other conditioning techniques to strengthen and align the body.
Ballet Posture: This technique emphasizes a tall and lifted stance with the spine lengthened, shoulders back, and the pelvis tucked under.
Jazz Posture: Jazz posture features a more relaxed stance with a slightly arched back, the chest lifted, and the pelvis held in a neutral position.
Modern Posture: Modern posture is characterized by a more organic and fluid stance with the spine often curved, the chest lifted, and the pelvis held in a neutral position.
Contemporary Posture: Contemporary posture features a combination of both ballet and modern techniques with a deep grounding of the feet, a subtle pelvic tilt, and a natural curve in the spine.
Hip Hop Posture: Hip hop posture features a wider stance with the feet positioned slightly apart and the spine held straight, but relaxed.
Flamenco Posture: Flamenco posture emphasizes a proud and lifted position with the spine held tall, the chest lifted, and the shoulders rolled back.
Tap Posture: Tap posture is similar to jazz posture but features a greater emphasis on the placement of the feet and center of gravity.
Ballroom Posture: Ballroom posture is characterized by a tall and upright stance with a slight pelvic tilt, the chest lifted, and the head held high.
Irish Step Posture: Irish step posture features a tall and upright stance with the feet held close together and the arms held close to the torso.
Bollywood Posture: Bollywood posture emphasizes a more natural stance with the shoulders relaxed, chest lifted, and the feet held slightly apart.
Belly Dance Posture: Belly dance posture features a focus on isolated movements of the hips, spine, and shoulders with a relaxed and flowing stance.
African Traditional Dance Posture: African traditional dance posture features a deep grounding of the feet and a relaxed but lively stance with high energy in the torso and arms.
Kathak Posture: This classical Indian dance form emphasizes a tall and lifted stance with the spine straight, the shoulders back, and the chest lifted.
Bhangra Posture: Bhangra posture features a more grounded stance with a slight hip tilt, and the arms held straight at the side of the body.