How to body dance
DanceBody | DanceBody LIVE At-Home Workouts
The Workout That Moves with You
Join DanceBody LIVE
Daily LIVE streamed classes, 300+ On Demand workouts, specialty programs, and more.
Join Now Sign InFeatured In
DanceBody LIVE
Today is the Day. You’re Ready.
You don’t have to be a dancer to look like one. Achieve the long, lean lines of a dancer while gaining the strength of an athlete. See why people globally love DanceBody.
- Daily LIVE streamed classes
- 300 + On Demand workouts
- Wellness & specialty content
- Programs, challenges, and more
Choose the Membership That’s Right For You
Join Now
Platinum
$34.99/month
50+ LIVE classes a week, 300+ On Demand workouts, new releases, & specialty programs
*Auto renews monthly until canceled. Use code DBNEW for 1st month $5.
Join Now
Prima
$349.99/annual
Everything in the Platinum membership, but for less. One-time annual payment saves $70/year.
*Auto renews annually until canceled.
Premiere
$16.99/month
Full access to 300+ On Demand workouts & programs.
*Auto renews monthly until canceled.
Day Pass
$9.99
24-hour LIVE and On Demand access from time of purchase. No strings attached, does not renew, and can be purchased anytime.
Join Now
At Home and On the Road with DanceBody LIVE
Daily LIVE Classes
It’s like you’re right there with us in our NYC studio when you stream a DanceBody LIVE class. With 2-way video you feel the energy of a true community while you work up a sweat.
Check Out DanceBody LIVETry Our On Demand Workouts
DanceBody LIVE
Choose from hundreds of dance cardio and full-body sculpting workouts. Or try our specialty content for pre/postnatal and a 30-day BrideBody program. DanceBody LIVE isn’t just about a great workout. Experience wellness content and take part in annual challenges as we stay accountable together.
20+ Countries and Counting
The DanceBody LIVE Community
DanceBody LIVE members have exclusive access to our DanceBody Babes Facebook community. Many have found lifelong friends & partners to workout with. It’s an inclusive community of positive support and understanding.
Want To Dance With More CONTROL? Read This.
Do you want to dance with more control?
"Control" in dancing means your body is doing what your mind wants it to do.
If you want to dance with more control, then keep reading!
How to dance with more control
1. Be aware of your stopping points
If you want to dance with more control, then you have to understand where your movements stop. Let’s say you have a coloring book.
The outlines are the “stopping points,” AKA where your movements should end.
Knowing exactly where those outlines are ensures that your movements aren’t extending beyond it (coloring outside the lines), or cutting it short (leaving an awkward gap).
Hitting these pictures precisely makes you clean because you’re understanding WHERE to move your body. That’s the first step of control!
So once you figure out where your stopping points are. ..
2. Know your pathway in between those points
The actual movement between point A and point B is where your control really comes in. First, set the pathway. Like, is it a straight line?
Is your hand going from your right shoulder to your knee or your chest to your stomach??
This is the question that I ask most often in class because it’s easy to see pictures that the choreographer is hitting, but harder to catch the movement in between.
Once you know what that pathway is, you can refine the way you move through that pathway if you...
3. Choose which muscles to use and when
Imagine your body as a marionette. Each body part is controlled by a specific string. When you dance, these strings are invisible controls that exist in your brain.
Get used to what it feels like to move certain body parts. Try moving into any position as slowly as you possibly can. Put yourself in awkward positions.
Be able to hold whatever position by getting your body used to it. And let your mind memorize exactly what it feels like.
Read this article for more tips! How To Dance Better By Understanding Body Awareness
4. Play with power
Being able to dance with more control also includes your power. Make sure that you’re not over- or under- exerting energy.
Going back to the coloring book metaphor – this is how hard you’re pressing down on the paper with your crayon.
You don’t want to bleed through the sheet (overexert), nor do you want it to be too light (under exert). You want to match the right level of power according to the music.
As you become more fluent with your power levels, even the most simple movements in choreography will start to look more polished and refined.
Ultimately, this is how you showcase the musicality.
Learn how to manage your power here! How To Dance Bigger, Stronger, And More “Full Out”
5.
Increase your flexibilityIf you increase your range of motion, then you’ll have the agility to move how you want without so much physical strain.
Before you start dancing, do a light/stretch warm up!
If you're not sure how to do that, follow this: Quick Warm Up / Stretch Routine
For example:If you can do the splits, kicking high is not so much of a physical challenge. You won’t be shaking or straining.
You have more control over how high or low you want that kick to go. Stretch regularly and warm your muscles up before dancing in order to become more flexible!
This video will show you how to (and not to stretch)!
6. Be stable on your feet
Can you imagine sitting on a chair… with TOOTHPICKS for legs?! You’d probably feel really unsafe, right?
This is like your body when you dance. If your bottom half is weak and wobbly, then nothing above that can look controlled. It starts with keeping your balance.
To do this, know how your weight should be distributed in each move.
Read more about weight distribution here: Why Staying Light On Your Feet Is Actually Bad Advice
For example, if you have to lift your left foot up, then most of your weight should be on your right foot.
Maintain a sturdy base the next time you dance and you’ll notice how much more controlled you feel!
Control is something that is trainable. We hope these tips will help your body to create the movements that your mind wants!
What do you do to dance with more control? Comment below and share with us!
Control comes in many forms. Here are some of our favorite "controlled" dancers that you can train with at home!
Work on your patience and timing in Deziree Del Rosario's class! Click her photo below to start.
Work on your isolations and dime stops in Tony Tran's class! Click his photo below to train!
Aggie Loyola will teach you how to dance more controlled and clean. Click her photo below to take class!
Learn to control your body. Lesson three. Waist and hips
13
+13
0
| Miscellaneous
Social dances
Learn to control your body. Lesson three. Waist and hips
To dance easily and effortlessly, you need a flexible waist and mobile hips. Needless to say, what an important role these parts of the body play in the dancer's posture. Let's get acquainted with a set of exercises designed specifically for the waist and hips. nine0004
Learn to control your body. Lesson three. Waist and hips
Exercises for the waist
They are done as follows. In a standing position, raise your arms up above your head and try to rotate the upper half of the body as much as possible, first to the right and then to the left, keeping the legs and pelvis motionless. Lying on your back, extend your arms to the sides, then touch your left foot to your right hand, keeping your back firmly pressed to the floor. Do the same on the other side, touching the right foot of the left hand. And one more exercise: get down on your knees, and then sit on your heels. Try to move the body to the right and left without the help of hands. nine0004
Learn to control your body. Lesson three. Waist and hips
Hip exercises
The following exercises are suggested for the hips. In a standing position, you need to spread your legs and put your hands on your head, and then perform a movement called "belly dance" - swaying your pelvis forward - back, back - forward, and then right and left. From the same starting position, make a rotational movement of the hips: right - back, left and forward. The same movement can be performed using four diagonal positions: forward - right, back - right, forward - left and back - left. Exercise for the front of the thighs: you need to stand up straight, stretch one leg forward and try to stay in this position as long as possible. nine0004
Many exercises for the hips and waist will not only help you improve your dancing skills, but are also very beneficial for the vestibular apparatus. They will also help to get rid of excess weight, if any, and will allow you to always be in shape. Regular implementation of our simple exercises will ensure you quick success in conquering dance peaks.
Learn to control your body. Lesson three. Waist and hips
exercises, waist, hips, belly dance, vestibular apparatus
Share a link
Blog tags
Find a tag:
Follow @4dancing
4dancing
Small mosaic
large mosaic
12 life hacks to quickly learn how to dance from Mamita Dance
Dances
Author: Pavel Pavel
Psychologist, Lecturer Salsa and Tango
Dances
Author: Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel Pavel , teacher of salsa and tango
At the start, you always want to get a quick result. When it doesn't happen, the hypothesis arises that everything takes time. After a conditionally acceptable time, humility comes to mastering pair dances, which, perhaps, is not given, and I will just do what I learned somehow. nine0004
This is the most common story of those who believe that the mere act of attending a pair dance class is enough to learn how to dance.
Absolutely not. If you want to really dance well, you have to make an effort outside of the dance class. A good teacher will definitely be needed, but the initiative should be on your side.
1. Listen to music
The most common and accessible advice that is given already in the first lessons. And it definitely works. Music creates a certain atmosphere of the dance and intuitively you want to move to it. It doesn't matter where you listen to music - in the car, on headphones while walking or doing household chores. nine0004
An addition that will help you dance better is your active participation in the music. Sing along, dance or simply beat musical accents with any free parts of the body. In the subway, for example, it is enough to tap out bright moments with your fingers, in the car to sing along with sounds, and at home you can jump for pleasure.
2. Watch videos of good dancers
It's complicated, but also obvious. It’s more difficult, because without recommendations from more experienced dancers, unfortunately, it’s not so easy to find a good quality video on the net (I mean not the resolution quality, but the content itself). nine0004
Meaningful watching of the video is to form an understanding of HOW the dancers make this or that impression on the partner or the viewer. Technology is at the heart of everything. Understanding how the pros do it is a big step forward.
It is important to distinguish a show from a disco dance, a choreographed performance from an improvisation, a stylized dance from an authentic one, etc. Ask for recommendations, and dance instructors will always upload a couple of videos of worthy landmarks. nine0114
Tango Z. Showreel.
Online modern tango courses
Tango nuevo is the most advanced version of tango. We can quickly learn to dance from zero to a steep level.
View details |
3. Dance in salsatecas/milongas/discotheques
A very delicate moment when it is worth coming to the first party. From a technical point of view, most students in 1-3 months have a sufficient set of figures and techniques to come and dance calmly. Psychologically, the same moment can be stretched out for an indefinite time. After all, it is imperative to “not lose face”, “learn more figures” and be sure what to do in case “there is an unfamiliar movement”. nine0004
In fact, the party goers don't really care (except for a small layer of non-professional teachers who want to help inexperienced dancers by treating them as customers in the future). It is important to come and try dancing after a month of classes. You can only with friends or guys from your group. This will be enough to feel the adrenaline and inspiration from the dance.
4. Dance with partners or partners not of your level
The conventional wisdom that you need to practice in groups of your level does not stand up to the test of experience. Perhaps now your eyes widened in surprise, and you want to meaningfully read the phrase again. Yes, you saw everything correctly: when you dance with a partner of your level, you don’t grow anywhere. nine0004
It's important to understand that not only does it work one way and you need to dance with cooler dancers, but it works even more effectively the other way. It is no coincidence that teaching pair dances dramatically raises the level of the teacher himself. You have an endless stream of very beginner dancers.
How it works. A more experienced partner needs to be "stretched". It's easy and obvious. With beginners, you need to take more initiative on yourself, see the general pattern of the dance more widely, turn on and insure more, try to be an example and be more careful. The quality of interaction begins to grow significantly. And wonderful partners too. nine0004
Dancing with partners of your level doesn't make you grow. Dance with beginners and more advanced dancers
Dominican Bachata Women's Style Online Course
Want to learn how to hypnotize those around you with the most appetizing part of your body? On the course we will tell you all the secrets.
Interesting |
5. Learn to dance for a partner and for a partner
Turks and Argentines are one of the best partners in the world. In Russia, partners are highly valued. Why? The answer is simple. In Argentina and Turkey, it is not questionable for men to ask another man to lead in one piece or another and give feedback on the quality of the lead. For them, it will be a great shame to hear moralizing from a partner, or even more so to be known in the community as an insecure partner. nine0004
In Russia, due to the constant, often far-fetched, opinion that there are more women in pair dances, partners calmly get up and study their partner's part. Such partners then grow into very cool dancers and teachers. In no case do this at parties, only in class. Here we are talking only about the learning strategy. At parties, be yourself.
6. Do not memorize the links
Always try to look deeper and understand the through principle and idea of movement. Understanding what and how is done will make it possible to independently generate any sequences and chips. nine0004
Human memory is limited and there will always be a moment when something will slip away and your repertoire will be limited by the size of RAM.
In Argentine tango, for example, there are seven levels of movement construction that, when mastered, will allow you to make millions of combinations. And how many dance sequences can you really remember? In rueda, more than 150 figures dance in a rare circle. It's hard to keep more in mind.
7. Develop your body
Many years of experience in teaching pair dance shows that as soon as everyone pairs up in a class, any progress in individual style ends. But it is the individual style that distinguishes everyone at the disco: partners change, and style is always with you. nine0004
The body as the main instrument of dance must be very plastic, responsive and emotional. Surprisingly, not all pair dance schools have a general physical warm-up. It is vital to tune the body and understand how it works.
You can always train extra and concentrate more on the basic steps, as their true value is as body work. The sequence of steps is, in fact, the simplest thing that can be in pair dancing. The quality of individual performance determines the craftsmanship. nine0004
8. Try on the images of inspiring dancers
A psychological life hack for those who have already mastered the steps, but still feel that there is not enough brightness and drive. Most are terribly afraid of being someone else's "clone". Here the action is the same as under the influence of hypnosis - the more you resist, the more you plunge into an altered state of consciousness.
With a high degree of probability, you are already dancing like someone else's "clone". A meaningful fitting of someone else's image is that you mentally take the image of the one who inspires you (inspiration is critical in this case) and "put on" yourself. Then you start dancing and trying to feel in general how it is to be able, for example, to be the best partner or the sexiest partner in a disco. This is much more difficult than it seems. But it works extremely efficiently. nine0004
9. Dance to unformatted music
Habitual rhythms keep you rigid. Tango salon or speedy timba leave little room for experimentation and fantasy. Pattern dancing is always noticeable and is reserved for beginners.
The truly new is born outside of the usual. Look for places to experiment. If there is no place, organize self-training. The main thing is not to get carried away, because music determines the style. We bring something new to pair dances, rather than trying to change them. nine0114
Search, improvise, don't be afraid to go beyond, develop in different directions, be inspired by music atypical for the style
10. Try your hand at basic dance directions dances exist according to their own non-choreographic laws.
This is the deepest delusion, which has turned into a ceiling for the qualitative development of pair dances. After all, all professional dancers, for example, in salsa or bachata, build their ideas on the basic choreographic principles. nine0004
Do not think that choreography is applicable only on stage. Any meaningful movement of the body can be choreographic. In general, try classical or modern choreography. Basically, hip-hop can work too.
11. Look for battle sensations
Pair dances return us to an active position of manifestation of our body. As in the days of our ancient ancestors, we impress the members of the opposite sex by how dexterous, hardy, sexy, etc. we are. Modern laws of the jungle in the entourage of large cities. nine0004
If you look around the dance floor, it becomes clear that the majority are clearly herbivores (not in the sense of vegetarians, but in relation to those around them). I am sure that predators are always more interesting in terms of the attractiveness of the image - try to find a counterbalance among herbivores, for example, a cat woman or a lion man.
The conversation is about an internal position, not about aggressiveness. Lability and lack of control are inherent in adolescents, and not in adult self-sufficient people.
Accordingly, even a training or friendly battle gives, on the one hand, practical skills - to make a bright sequence of movements, bring an idea to a climax, show a spectacular feature, on the other hand, develops the psychological basis of the dance - self-confidence, resistance to extraneous attention, self-control and self-control in complex elements. nine0114
12. Communicate with professionals
The environment shapes the internal position. Basically, real passionaries of the dance community are ready to openly talk, discuss and support the development of dance in every possible way.