Last time, on Riot and Frolic...
I gave you an overview of some basic criteria of ballroom dancing judging and how good timing might be the most important factor to show. I'm still a little surprised that I didn't use posture as the base of the pyramid, but let's face it: if you dance off the music, I'm not marking you.
Now there's posture. Posture is SO CRAZY IMPORTANT. Posture, or carriage, informs basically everything you do. Your frame, your leg action, your head position: all based on posture. It's also the most complex.
Unfortunately, I can't tell you how to stand up from here.
With problems from the common lordosis, to kyphosis and scoliosis (but Joanna Leunis has that, so... what's your excuse?), and muscle underuse or even atrophy, the spine and its surrounding muscles can be quite the puzzle to piece together into a beautiful picture.
Basically everyone needs to strengthen their core and loosen up their spine to be able to move correctly. I'm currently obsessed with the Runner's World workout The New Core Curriculum. It seemed a little weird to find the perfect ballroom dance workout in my fav running mag, but GO DO IT. Do Pilates, yoga, Gyrokinesis, Egoscue, stand against a wall, do some lat pull-downs, crunch a set of sit-ups, DO IT. DO IT EVERYDAY.
Once you've gained some flexibility and muscles, there's always the classic "stand up straight" but what does that mean when you're attached to that nerd across from you? A mere STFU [Stand The F Up] doesn't cover counterbalancing, connection, forward poise, and an actual vertical spine. This is where that whole "learning" thing comes in. Get thee some personalized education, lovelies.
Happy Friday!
Explanation of Judges' Marks : Part One - Overview and Timing
Explanation of Judges' Marks : Part Two - Posture (seen here)
One year ago: Timing: It's What's For Dinner, in which I repeat myself.
Two years ago: Don't Dance What You See - Episode V - Body Contact, in which I sense a theme.
