Dancing the skeleton vs dancing the muscle

[SwingWaltz]

I don't really understand what it means when people say that one should dance with their skeleton rather than dance with their muscles. Apparently I dance with my muscles and it's not a good thing. Anyone care to explain plesase?

[Josh]

If you have too much tension in your muscles (they are contracted), even the ones that are needed at the time, then your movement will be restricted. An easy movement from a toned yet relaxed body is desired. The problem often stems from forcing movement instead of allowing the natural forces of gravity and inertia to allow the body to swing.

The skeleton, when minimally supported by surrounding muscles, is very adept at countering gravity and supporting the weight of the body. Tensing muscles and trying to hold up the body with too much muscle usage does not allow the skeleton, whose separate parts are quite strong, to bear the brunt of the work of opposing gravity, and tires the muscles while at the same time restricting otherwise free-swinging movement, as stated above.

Think of a natural walking motion. If you walked with tense muscles even a short distance, your legs and back and everything involved would be worn out, and your walking motion would not be natural, but appear forced, as if you were consciously placing each step. Instead, the natural and efficient way is for the impetus of movement to come from a perspective of moving the body (skeleton), and allowing the legs to fall/swing under it.

[Easy]

The muscles move the skeleton, but people don't think of their spine enough...me thinks

[SwingWaltz]

Thank you! Great explaination!

If I have not misunderstood, I should move my spine and let my legs catch my weight rather than using my legs to move my weight.

[fascination]

josh...I am so relieved to say that I finally understand that...thanks for such a great explanation of it...and wow, what a difference it makes!

[White Chacha]

That was a great explanation. But when I first saw the thread topic, all I could think of was Halloween ;-)

[biggestbox]

In my experience, there are two types of movement: muscle movement and bony movement. Bony movement only uses as much energy as needed to move the bones(previous explanation is good). this kind of movement is fast and quick. muscly is slow stationary movement. think about those slow beautiful movements.

[samina]

"How little effort does it take to get the job done?"

;)

[fascination]

In my experience, there are two types of movement: muscle movement and bony movement. Bony movement only uses as much energy as needed to move the bones(previous explanation is good). this kind of movement is fast and quick. muscly is slow stationary movement. think about those slow beautiful movements.
dunno...muscle movement can be way too quick;)

[fascination]

bottom line is that you need both in the proper proportion...some recipes need to be more precise than others

[Josh]

Thank you! Great explaination!

If I have not misunderstood, I should move my spine and let my legs catch my weight rather than using my legs to move my weight.

I think you have the right idea, but you should of course get your coach to help implement this. We sometimes have a tendency to over-correct and you need some eyes on you to work with you throughout the process. For example, letting your legs catch your weight doesn't imply that your legs are always "lagging behind" in every figure in every dance! I certainly have lots to work on in this particular aspect of my dancing, and it's simply something you can't do without outside help. I hope others will post their take on this, as mine is just one perspective on it!

[Standarddancer]

Just recall Luca Barricchi kept emphasizing the usage of "joint" in his teaching video, guess it's his way to emphasizing "dancing the skeleton" and relax the muscles.

[Standarddancer]

That was a great explanation. But when I first saw the thread topic, all I could think of was Halloween ;-)

lol. this thread definitely came out the right time. yap skeleton and Halloween are definitely related;)

[samina]

Just recall Luca Barricchi kept emphasizing the usage of "joint" in his teaching video, guess it's his way to emphasizing "dancing the skeleton" and relax the muscles.

exactly, since the joints are the load-bearing connectors of the skeletal frame.

[Larinda McRaven]

bottom line is that you need both in the proper proportion...some recipes need to be more precise than others

Both are beneficial and neccessary. We often learn one way or the other, applying only one version.

Barrichis are able to dance that way because they are finely tuned to each others (minute) muscle movements.

[Yanou]

If you have too much tension in your muscles (they are contracted), even the ones that are needed at the time, then your movement will be restricted. An easy movement from a toned yet relaxed body is desired. The problem often stems from forcing movement instead of allowing the natural forces of gravity and inertia to allow the body to swing.


Wow. Great explanation!

Difficulty for me is "toned yet relaxed." I tend to get "stiff" when I try to have a toned body. :rolleyes:

[and123]

That was a great explanation. But when I first saw the thread topic, all I could think of was Halloween ;-)

I think someone should wear a muscle anatomy costume this year.

http://wc.pima.edu/~ahaber/images/muscle%20anatomy.jpg

[mamboqueen]

I'd stone the midsection. ;)

I have such a hard time with the spine/bones lessons...just hard to wrap my head around something I don't really feel.

[samina]

I think someone should wear a muscle anatomy costume this year.

http://wc.pima.edu/~ahaber/images/muscle%20anatomy.jpg

dancesomatics. :)

[samina]

I'd stone the midsection. ;)


i'd stone the meridians.:cool:

[biggestbox]

I'd stone the midsection. ;)

I have such a hard time with the spine/bones lessons...just hard to wrap my head around something I don't really feel.

Well you can't always feel it. you just gotta move and trust that your body will be there. Sometimes you need a burst of power and then let your body do what it does.

[Larinda McRaven]

i'd Stone The Meridians.:cool:

:p:p

[dancepro]

I don't really understand what it means when people say that one should dance with their skeleton rather than dance with their muscles. Apparently I dance with my muscles and it's not a good thing. Anyone care to explain plesase?

You have got a pm coming with my 2 cents

Dancepro

[tsb]

that analogy reminded me of my attempts to master cuban motion. from the top down, it seems largely muscular to me in terms of extending the ribcage, etc., whereas from the bottom up, it's primarily the work of the skeleton as i settle onto my heel and straighten my knee.

[skipper]

My teacher used to tell me that he wanted to "wear" me. I always knew to be soft, with some structure. It certainly taught me about energies---which is another topic!

[Chris Stratton]

http://wc.pima.edu/~ahaber/images/muscle%20anatomy.jpg

CBMP isn't half bad, better than most promenade attemps really, but what's up with the arms and head?

[Joe]

It's a jive chicken walk. That's just Latin arm styling. ;)

[and123]

ah yes, the infamous "pat myself on the head b/c I'm so sexy" arm styling.

[pruthe]

CBMP isn't half bad, better than most promenade attemps really, but what's up with the arms and head?

Reaction to thought: "Gee, am I naked in front of a bunch of people???"

[Purr]

ah yes, the infamous "pat myself on the head b/c I'm so sexy" arm styling.

I am not a fan of this type of styling, too many things can go wrong to make it look stupid. There's the quickly pat myself on the head, "oops, I could have had a V8" moment. Then there's the holding on the top of your head by dear life, like it's going to go flying off somewhere. Or then there's the "I've got a bad headache look".