Dance is not just about the movement and the grace. There are a lot of other factors that one needs to consider. For any dancer to look aesthetically beautiful and graceful on stage, finesse and clean movements are a must. And to achieve that it is important to have control over their steps and body movements. I observe a lot of dancers and students who come to class with renewed gusto and enthusiasm and express a desire to learn new steps. They pick up the steps quickly but when it comes to performing the same step, they are shaky and wobble and at times also lose balance.
Body control is an element every keen dancer should master. Once you attain body control, you can add moves and broaden your choreographic choices. Even if you just want to dazzle your friends on the dance floor of a local club, enhanced body control can make you a better performer. A dancer with good body control looks stronger in their footwork and knowledge of dance.
Watch videos of breakdancers to get a good idea of what this body style should look like when executed properly. Developing body control is not an easy task. It requires rehearsals apart from regular dance practice. Once a dancer achieves the control of the body, then it’s a smooth road ahead. I have listed below a few instructions that helped me get body control for my self. I am sharing the same with you, hoping that all the enthusiastic dance lovers who read my column can gain some useful tips from this.
1) Do some preliminary stretches to loosen the body and prepare for dancing. Concentrate on loosening the hip joints and shoulders, especially the body parts that need the most control during a dance.
2) Find music with a definitive beat, such as hip-hop, 80’s retro music or even clear tabla beats. Position the bottom part of your body in one place, while only moving your upper body from side to side. Concentrate on keeping your hips and legs firmly in place, while maintaining fluidity in the upper body. This is called isolation of body, which is every important for a dancer.
3) Reverse the control, and move your hips while keeping your upper body in a frozen position. Isolate the muscles in the shoulders and chest to prevent them from moving while trying to achieve maximum fluidity in your lower body.
4) Repeat steps three and four while isolating other, various parts of the body and moving others fluidly. Practice in front of a full-length mirror, and take note of body parts that seem to be uncomfortable or out of place during the movement. Being aware of how your body moves can help you to control it while you dance.
5) Take classical dance classes that emphasise control over the musculature of the body. Try muscle isolating exercise routines, such as yoga and pilates, to become more attuned to the way your body moves. Also do core strengthening exercise as they also help a lot in body control.
I am sure if a dancer follows the above tips rigorously and religiously, they will surely benefit from it. Like the famous danseuse Mallika Sarabhai puts it “A dancer is a dancer when they have control over their body movements and every expression.”