About grounding

grounding is the lowering of your weight center so that the body is more stable (Physics 101). It is achieved largely through relaxation. It should allow greater awareness of ones own balance.
 
Make friends with gravity. Reduce the effort involved in keeping yourself upright until you feel yourself sinking into the floor (but not falling over!).
 
Thanks guys, but I want to be able to know what part of my body(ies) to be aware of when I try to ground myself. too many people appear to float on the dance floor. I want to look like my legs are rooted when I move.
 
It is difficult to explain. You need to find your 'centre' which is your inner balance. When you move you must always be aware of your centre and not rely on a partner to keep you balanced/grounded. Practice you dancing without a partner. Be in frame etc., and practice properly as if you have an partner, although invisable. That may help you find your centre.
 
Try to feel the weight of your core sitting within your pelvis and flowing down your leg bones into the floor. Use some active foot pressure into the floor.
 
Copper rod and #4 wire... no, wait... I often hear the phrase "dancing into the floor", particularly in relation to cha-cha and the swing dances. For me, a lot of it is just making sure that (1) when I step, I do a full weight transfer, and (2) making sure that I get my foot all the way down, i.e., not dancing up on my toes. Making sure that you aren't dancing with your knees locked is a big part of it too.
 
Makes me want to get my ham radio gear out and string an antenna ;-)

But back on topic... I've heard grounding used in connection with use of the feet as well. And there's a look associated with a dancer who's grounded. Somehow they look like they're "connected" to the floor and not flying above it, even when in flight. I wish I understood how to explain/understand that better.
 
Grounding is that proverbial elephant that several blind men ended arguing about when they tried to describe its parts--thinking the part they were touching was the whole.


So it is with the several parts of grounding:
  • Kinesthetic balance
  • Lower center of gravity
  • Bracing the major muscles that are closer to the floor so it's prepared to move the body effectively
  • Efficient use of the supporting leg
  • Leverage of the floor to create movement or to better propel the body
  • Leverage of momentum from the previous movement
  • Accuracy of foot placement in coordination to the partner, alignment, and direction

The net effect is a certain look and feel.
That feeling of SOLIDNESS (ie "you are SO grounded today, it doesn't feel like I could tip you over!") is actually kinesthetic stability brought about by superior balance, better leverage of the floor, and effective use of momentum.






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that makes sense, max. have been in pursuit of this for the last year and have found it to be a complex matter... something that has been taking me a lot of time, attention, and work to evolve...
 
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