Saturday and Floor Focus
A very common problem for many dancers is “looking at the
floor”. This downward focus is wrong for
a whole host of reasons.
First, it distorts the posture, because in order to remain
upright and not fall, the body compensates by sticking the seat out. The dancer is now balanced, but it is hardly
the alignment that anyone wants to see.
Another problem is simply one of aesthetics. Watching someone who constantly stares at the
floor is not enjoyable. I’ve heard
teachers threaten to paint eyeballs on a student’s eyelids just so they will
appear to be looking up!
Finally, and most importantly, it is a difficult habit to break.
This is probably because dancers look down when they are not dancing too – often it is a habit
acquired in childhood, sometimes due to shyness. Sometimes it is a habit of
concentration. Whatever the cause, it
needs to be addressed, and the sooner the better. Have students find things on the walls of the
classroom to look at – and emphasis on the correct use of the head can also
help with this problem.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Secret #7i:
“Find things to look at in the room while dancing, and remember the
correct head positions to prevent looking at the floor.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”
-Aristotle
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