Frame

[Kitty]

Does anyone know what I can do to improve my frame?
My frame is pretty and I have nice posture, so the teacher doesn't notice the problem too much,
but it is some guys that I dance with that do: if they push on my arms, my arms move relative to my body. So it is just not strong enough. Can you recommend any exercises?

[Porfirio Landeros]

Hmmm... one trick.

When a man is pushing you (usually when you are travelling backward) are you pushing back? This would be a "push connection" across your frames. Also, when he pulls you backward, are you pulling back? That would be a "pull connection".

The trick is to switch back and forth between the two of these connections dynamically without showing it in your frame. Also, your reactions have to be just enough to transmit leads, but not make you heavy. So, just play around until you make each other happy. It could be also something they need to improve on, too ;-)

[Hank]

Having the arms disconnected from the body is an extremely common problem that is virtually a universal experience for both men and women. I don't think it is related to a lack of strength. Instead, it comes from a lack of practice and lacking of knowledge of which muscles to flex.

In order to anchor the arms to the back, flex the chest, shoulder, and back muscles. To find these muscles initially, put your left hand on your right chest near the underarm, immediately below the shoulder. Now, try to find the muscle in your right chest that, when flexed, makes your left hand pop out. Repeat with the right hand and left chest. Flexing these chest muscles will automatically also flex your shoulder and back muscles. It is also important to make sure that your shoulders stay down, even if your arm goes over your head. Now, practice dancing every day for several years with these muscles flexed, paying attention that your elbows stay in front of your body.

Improper technique is to flex your biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles, which will simply create tension in your arms without anchoring your arms to your body.

[Kitty]

Having the arms disconnected from the body is an extremely common problem that is virtually a universal experience for both men and women. I don't think it is related to a lack of strength. Instead, it comes from a lack of practice and lacking of knowledge of which muscles to flex.

In order to anchor the arms to the back, flex the chest, shoulder, and back muscles. To find these muscles initially, put your left hand on your right chest near the underarm, immediately below the shoulder. Now, try to find the muscle in your right chest that, when flexed, makes your left hand pop out. Repeat with the right hand and left chest. Flexing these chest muscles will automatically also flex your shoulder and back muscles. It is also important to make sure that your shoulders stay down, even if your arm goes over your head.

That's what I try to do. I guess I'll just try more:-).

When I said "not strong enough", I didn't mean myself, I meant my frame starts moving because it is not strong enough to stay still. I make it go back in place, but it is just not good that it is not still. As the leader who corrected me said: "your arms shouldn't move." I said: "my body should move?" He said:"no" I said: "so what moves?" He said: "we". :-)

[Hank]

I listened to my teacher tell me that my frame was broken 10 times/hour for at least 2 years before I even started to do it consistently. It just takes a lot of practice.