Body Alignment

[RhumbaWaltz]

I had a rehearsal today for an upcoming performance. I was feeling pretty good - I am finally comfortable with the choreography and my partner and I were really starting to "feel" the music. The main constructive criticism seems to be that my alignment needs work - I need to keep my center more forward for Latin. (I have a tendency to lean back). Of course now I feel completely off balance - even though it looks much better. I'm sure the answer is practice, practice, practice, but does anyone who has worked through alignment issues have any suggestions on how to improve?

Thanks,
RW

[ACtenDance]

The more appropriate word would be poise. If you say alignment, you might have terminology problems with people. They might think about room alignments that are used in Standard figures and in teaching latin figures.

But anyway, try squeezing your back side. It'll help you keep your balance.

[Medira]

Stand up straight, arms length away from a wall. Face that wall and extend your arms until your palms are flat against it. Now, walk through the basic of your dances, being very conscious of where your arms and hands are against the wall. Close your eyes while you're doing this. It will help. Just keep working on the basic and focusing on the feeling of where you are until it starts to feel consistent.

[Egoist]

Stand up straight, arms length away from a wall. Face that wall and extend your arms until your palms are flat against it. Now, walk through the basic of your dances, being very conscious of where your arms and hands are against the wall. Close your eyes while you're doing this. It will help. Just keep working on the basic and focusing on the feeling of where you are until it starts to feel consistent.

Are you asking RW to walk into a wall?

[Medira]

Are you asking RW to walk into a wall?
No, no, no. You have your hands against the wall and you're actually standing at arm's length from it. As you do the basic step, you move closer to the wall or further away from it. However, you'll know whenever you reach the point where you started, that you should be back at arm's length from the wall. If you are, then your body is still in the right position. It's more for awareness of where your body is as opposed to actual footwork practice.

[dTas]

The more appropriate word would be poise. If you say alignment, you might have terminology problems with people. They might think about room alignments that are used in Standard figures and in teaching latin figures.

But anyway, try squeezing your back side. It'll help you keep your balance.

i agree... tighten your butt! and push your abs out your back (don't suck in your abs), AND keep your chin up!

one thing that i tell all my students: if at any time, when you're dancing, you find yourself at rest or in a rested position... then you're not dancing! you're resting.

dancing is active and if you aren't working some muscle to keep a position then you're not being active. usually sitting on your heels indicates some sort of resting.

[RhumbaWaltz]

Are you asking RW to walk into a wall?

Egoist, this made me laugh! I actually danced into a wall recently after tripping myself during my first quickstep lesson!! I'm usually fairly coordinated, so I don't know what happened! :)

Medira, dTas and ACtenDance: thanks for the advice. I'm going to work on the basics until the movement and placement begins to feel more natural.

RW