Dance Warm ups

[pygmalion]

Do you warm up before dancing? At a lesson, a competition, a club? If so, how? What do you do? why?

[dancin_feet]

Depends on how I'm feeling but generally, no I don't warm up. May rotate my ankles if they are feeling a bit stiff but that is basically it. The only time I have hurt myself with dancing is while warming up, so I just don't do it. I let the first dance warm me up.

[tsb]

yes, at all of the above, leg, arm, trunk (especially the lats) because i'm old & have already experienced a torn ACL & a ruptured achilles tendon.

[Swing Kitten]

I stretch my legs arms and shoulders. I also try to take some time to bounce to the music in the "athletic stance" needed for lindy.

I also go to the bar and ask for a pitcher of water and a couple of cups. (it seems I'm becoming known for doing this)

[Genesius Redux]

Absolutely--being, um, over 30, I want to be stretched and warm, with leg stretches especially. But I also work my ankles and feet, try to feel the floor.

One great warm-up stretch for behind your hamstrings and groin--stand with your legs wider than shoulder width, toes pointed forward. Then bend into your left knee, stretch toward the left, with your upper body balanced a little forward. Try to press your butt into the floor (specifically your right butt cheek--you should be working toward getting your right leg parallel to the ground). Your right foot will naturally rotate so that your heel is on the ground. Flex that foot so your toes are pointed to the ceiling. Important--keep your left foot flat, with your heel on the ground. Then switch by shifting your weight to the right.

Ladies will obviously not be able to do this in heels, and it's probably not the best stretch to do in a skirt. Also important--please don't overstretch if you're doing this for the first time; it's easy to injure yourself with this one if you're not used to it.

But if you do it carefully, it warms up your whole lower body.

Cheers,

Genesius

[luv2dnc]

i try to warm up before i go in for a class just becasue i like to feel warm before i dance. i dont go crazy with warming up but i do like to. if we arnt planning on doing a lot for a class i dont bother. when i go clubing, not to sound cheezy, but i do warm up a little. i do simple moves like leg streaches, or ankel warm up becasue i have pulled something everytime i go to the club without warming up(dont know how i manage to do that, but i do :oops: ) i guess it doesnt really matter whether you do or not...you know your body well enough to know if you need to or not :D :D :D

[SalsaGeek]

Jumping Jacks!!!

Hehe, just kidding. I stretch my arms and legs but not much or just slow dance and do some basics.

[ShyDancer]

I car dance all the way to class/socail and thats enough warm up for me :lol: :lol: :lol:

Nope I dont warm up. I have classes before socials so I get to warm up there.

[Sagitta]

Yes, yes, yes, yes.....

I usually rein myself in for the first dance or two to be safe at clubs, or as I put my dance shoes on I flex my toes, move my legs and body to the music, warming my muscles up. Then like shydancer I do have classes before some socials so it works out well. At the Ithaca social dances I often help out with the lessons as a leader and so I use that time to warm up / stretch as they show moves. I think that the best way of warming up is to use the muscles the way they will be utilized later on.

[tasche]

I live 2 mins drive from the studio so I tend to warm upa nd do alot of deep stretches before I jump in the car and go. This is not as ideal as warming up in the studio but frankly I feel weird doing so in front of all those ppl.

It does scare me though when I see students bothe guys and gals walk into the studio and immediately walk over the the little bar put up their leg and start to stretch. Obviously they get that from watching dance movies but you should never attempt that cold . OUCH!

[Flat Shoes]

My favourite warm-up: Lindy to slow (120-160) tempo. :P

Seriously, before a normal class or before normal dancing, I can't see the need to make things more difficult than this. Just start out easy, and increase when warm.