Expert: Gia al Qamar - 11/15/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Gia,
I have bad posture when I'm  belly dancing.  I had a teacher who constantly reminds me to open up my chest and since I never grew up dancing, I tend to slouch. It's not a pretty sight.  My teachers tell me to pretend that there is a string holding up my chest, but it doesn't work.  Do you have any tips or advice on maintaining good posture when dancing?
Thank you,
Rena

ANSWER: Marhaba! Hi Rena!
I wish that I had a simple solution...but...alas, maintaining good posture in dance just takes practice, practice, practice!!!
Lifting from the rib cage (not the chest) and rolling your shoulders back and down is good. Make sure that your tailbone is pointed towards the ground to prevent a sway back that could cause strain or injury!
So now we have the perfect posture.
But how do we maintain it during dance?
WATCH yourself in the mirror...when you see yourself beginning to slouch...stop.  Reposition your body and start again.
How do we help our weak muscles?
Cross training helps.  Many dancers train in Yoga and Pilates to help strengthen back muscles that are often too weak to support the great LIFT we need in the upper body.
I cross train with light weight lifting to maintain those muscles!
MOST important is that you do not allow yourself to slouch in your day to day activities. Are you slouching while reading this at the computer? How about when driving or walking?  Check yourself and correct yourself and you'll find that your newfound muscles are much more able to support your beautiful dancing!
Gia
www.IDreamOfGia.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Gia,
Thank you for the advice.  I have another question to ask you.  I've heard that great dancers have body awareness. What does that mean and how do I attain that?
Rena

Answer
Marhaba! Hello Rena!
Body awareness means that one knows exactly where in space and time each part of the body is and how it is moving.
Have you ever seen a person dancing at a club who seems to just be flailing around?  Or someone in dance class who is always off-rhythm?  This person has little body awareness.
I believe that body awareness is something a person has from birth...they are born with a sense of their own body and how it works and moves. Those students, in my classes, who can immitate my movements without my having to verbally break down every nuiance show that they have body awareness.
Having said that, however, I believe also that body awareness can be taught and trained into a dancer who wasn't born with the ability.
Using the mirror when you practice is VERY important. Your reflection isn't about how you look, but how you are moving in class...are you holding your shoulders back and down, your knees soft, your arms extended?  If not, you must correct, many times, before bad habits set into muscle memory.
There is no quick fix here...this takes years of practice and, without a doubt, the assistance of a GOOD teacher who can help you 'feel' what your body is doing so that you can SEE what is good and what needs practice!
Gia
www.IDreamOfGia.com