Dancer's Guide

LATIN TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP:

THE BASIC ENABLERS

Curriculum and Lesson Plan

"Technique"

Manner and ability with which we pursue a particular endeavour

LATIN TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP: FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Dance(s) Covered Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Jive Duration 9 hours (540 minutes)

Learner Outcome Understand the basic fundamentals of Latin American dancing technique and able to practice and demonstrate the realisation of these techniques to dance choreographies

Standard Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Syllabus requirements, Competitive dancing trends, International DanceSport Federation (IDSF) regulations

Music Tempo Typical range of Latin American music tempi

Curriculum

1. Posture (30 minutes)

Using posture to improve the look and quality of dancing

2. Basic Movement (60 minutes)

Execute correct change of weight, proper use of muscle groups and control of the centre

3. Basic Figure: Rumba Walks Ð'- Forward and Backward Walks (60 minutes)

How to walk the Rumba Walks accurately with proper weight changes and correct body lines

4. Basic Figure: Alemana (60 minutes)

How to execute effective Alemanas from various positions

5. Basic Figure: Cha Cha Cha Chasses (60 minutes)

Explore the various types of Cha Cha chasses and the technical methodology to achieve the desired competitive visual effects

6. Basic Figure: Jive Basics (60 minutes)

Dancing basic Jive actions effectively

7. Spins and Turns (60 Minutes)

Ability to execute on-time, balanced and controlled spins

8. Connections (60 minutes)

Using connections to create body rhythms and communicating with your partner

9. Arms, Wrist and Finger Styling (60 minutes)

Ways to spice up arm movements up by using the wrist, hand, and fingers.

10. Musicality (30 minutes)

Expressing the dance using different types of the same genre of music e.g. Disco Cha Cha, Cuban Cha Cha, Pop Cha Cha

CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

MODULE 1

Posture (30 minutes)

Using posture to improve the look and quality of dancing

Unit Title Posture

Dance(s) Any Duration 30 minutes

Learner Outcome Understand the importance of posture and poise in improving quality and look of Latin American dancing

Standard Alexander Technique, The Mitzvah Technique

Music Tempo None

Time What to Say? What To Do? Teaching Aid

5 mins

Introduction

Ð'* Proper posture is good for health, mental clarity, managing physical stress, and for adding the polish to your confidence. In terms of dancing, proper posture is imperative because it not only improves the look and quality of your dancing, it gives you PRESENCE!!.. on and off that dance floor.

Ð'* Essential to comfortable and effective dancing is good posture, achieved through the proper alignment of the various body parts in correct relative position with one another.

Illustrate with this sketch on the whiteboard

Refer Posture section from the DanceSport Dancer's Guide for write-up

10 mins How to achieve good posture?

Ð'* HEAD. The head should be held upright with the chin parallel to the floor. The neck should stretch upward, but be careful not to lengthen any one side of the neck at the expense of the opposite side... all sides of the neck should stretch upward. Pay particular attention to the back of the neck, which is often shortened when the chin is held too high. Be careful not to thrust the head forward from the neck, as the vertebrate in the neck should continue upward as an extension of the spine.

Ð'* CHEST & SPINE. The chest and hips must always be in good, vertical alignment. The ribcage should feel as though it is being lifted off of the hips, in such a way as to lengthen the spine. Any lifting of the chest, however, should always be accomplished in such a way as to allow for normal, comfortable breathing. Never allow the chest to pitch forward or slouch back in relation to the hips.

Ð'* PELVIS & HIPS. The position of the hips must allow for a natural curve of the spine. The pelvis should therefore be held in a midway position, not sticking out backward. But to achieve the natural curve (flattening) of the spine, you can tuck the pelvis slightly

Ð'* LEGS. When the legs are straight, the knees will be positioned directly between the hips and the feet. When the knees bend forward, the alignment of the hips and feet should remain constant, so that the body can remain upright. Always try to feel that you lengthen your torso as you bend your knees, so that your posture does not "deflate". Never allow your pelvis to stick out backward, even slightly, as the knees bend.

Ð'* FEET. In a normal, standing position, the body weight should remain slightly forward of the middle of the feet, between the heel and the ball of the foot. Distribution of weight should not affect the alignment of the upper blocks of weight, from hips to head.

Ð'* Show good and bad head posture position. Illustrate