Wisdom Of Dance (Please check for our regular updates)

"THE GIFT OF DANCE"

© Skippy Blair - 12/96, Rev. 9/02, 2/03 Visit Skippy at www.swingworld.com/articles

1. A Dancer moves through space by the carefully studied use of body control.  The "Centre Point of Balance" (Solar Plexus) moves upward as the toes press DOWN into the floor

2. Think of projecting the "Centre" of your body forward - as if you were moving a shopping cart in front of you. Your foot won’t hit the shopping cart because the cart moves in front of you - BEFORE you move your foot.

3. The "Sending Foot" presses down and BACK, in order to propel the body forward. The "Receiving Foot" accepts the weight transfer and immediately starts "pressing" - as it becomes the next "Sending Foot". The last element - the finishing touch - is to project the “Centring Knob, at the base of the neck, straight back. That knob is where the base of the neck and the top of the spine meet. It takes practice to keep the chin from going either up or down but the result is fantastic.  By pushing that knob back, the “finishing touch” lines up and centers the spine so that the entire body moves effortlessly across the floor, producing Body Flight.  It’s a wonderful feeling - and a sight to behold.  A beautiful “Dance Walk” is created when each element is learned and mastered separately, and then they all join together in their own time.  These elements include: Sending & Receiving Foot - 3 Toe Base - Individual Connection - a lifted Center Point of Balance (CPB) - Contra Body Movement and control of the “Centering Knob” at the base of the neck.