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Ballroom Dance Resource - Articles on Dancing Dr. Wong goes into great detail with this article on posture, footwork and more. A must read for all ballroom/Latin dancers.~ by Dr SH Wong www.rpmerleon.com "Arm Styling Exercises" by Miriam Ellis, Dual Fellow and Examiner, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, London and United States. Arms play a very important part in the Latin-American Dances, as well as in Swing. It is very easy to develop attractive Arm Styling, with the aid of your mirror, (and without a partner, of course!). EXERCISES TO IMPROVE YOUR ARM STYLING 1. SIMPLE EXERCISE FOR ARMS: To avoid a "Hard" use of arms in the Latin Dances, think of the Arm Styling as starting from the center of the body and "growing" outwards. Liken the body to a tree trunk; the arms are the branches that grow from the trunk and the hands are the leaves that grow from the branches, so they come last. To help Ladies achieve a soft, graceful use of arms and hands, use two chiffon scarves, knotting one to the middle finger of each hand. You will probably be pleased with the results. 2. ADVANCED EXERCISE FOR ARMS: A more advanced Arm Exercise is the Classical Ballet’s Port de Bras. Stand relaxed with the feet slightly apart. Let the arms hang from the shoulders in a soft curve to the hands, which are held with palms to the front of the thighs. (To create this curved shape from the shoulders, feel as though you are holding a tennis ball in each armpit). (Q) Turn hands so palms are towards each other, about six inches apart. (Q) Raise arms, keeping palms towards each other at the same distance, until arms are extended forward at chest height. (S) Open arms to side, hands still held in same shape, palms forward. Arms will finish slightly forward of the body line in a gentle curve. (Q) Turn wrists until palms are facing downwards to the floor. (Q) Lower arms slowly to the side of the legs, feeling a softness and "float" in the wrists. (S) This exercise requires quite a lot of practice before applying it to music! Miriam Ellis Dual Fellow and Examiner Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing |
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