Stavros.The lady also has a certain way of taking up position. If you can get a copy of an IDSF or Professional competition take note how the lady raises her left arm above the head comes in and places her left armpit on the mans wrist and graduly lowers onto the mans upper arm. See if you can see how far around the man's upper arm the ladies left hand goes untill it finds its final position. Body. Right side to right side is important. With the lady more to the man's right side the ladies right arm is much straighter than it used to be a few years ago. That also goes for the man's left palm being, not as it used to be a few years ago.
Man's left arm. The palm is facing flat from left to right. The ladies right palm is flat on the man's. No gap.
Any turning of the hand anti-clock by the man even slightly is out. Unforunately many professionals don't think it is neccesary to keep up with the latest trends. I see reported on this site how there is to be a Coaching Congress in Japan 27 Feb 2006. I would expect a deligate to attend this one and then report back with any new information or trends to be passed on. Will it happen. Keep Dancing

"Unforunately many professionals don't think it is neccesary to keep up with the latest trends"

Seeing as how these fads are being pushed by people barely 20 years old, I'm glad if some of the older coaches are averaging the changes over a longer period of time.

Suomynona. Seeing how these fads are being pushed by people barely 20 year
I will have to disagree with that, mainly because, who do you think are teaching these people.There would not be one in the top twelve who is not having lessons with the top coaches in the world at this present time. Incidently most of the males are nearer 30 than 20 years old. The top Amateur for one is 30 years old. If you don't think the standard of their dancing is not top class. I would point out that Riccardo Cocci and Joanne Wilkinson as Amateure Latin came first in Australia in December. Did another comp. in China where they again got first place. Four weeks later came 3rd in the Professional Latin at the UK Championship in February at Brighton. Merko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti Modern turned Professional at the end of 2003 and went straight to the top getting 4th in Blackpool then 2nd a year later and are now the undisputed Professional champions. The next one to leave the Amateur ranks will be Soale and Cerasoli . Watch how they will go considering they used to give Mirko a run for his money.

Thanks for the tips! I will try to use them.



billman

Hi Billman
i had exactly your problem for many years, much to the frustration of our coach. I think i've solved it now (or nearly so at least)
I didn't find any 'static' exercises of any use whatever. I had to dance simple, basic steps and think ONLY of my right shoulder.
Also, and what turned out to be very useful for me, i kept my head high and kept my rib cage well separated from my hips. I found that in this position, it was in fact hard to bring my right shoulder up.
Raising the right shoulder is simply a habit - there is no technical reason for it unless you are trying to pull your partner around with your right arm!
Check out the following - - when you dress and pull on your trousers, do you hunch up your shoulders? I used to, and it was only habit. I worked on that too. It all helps

What I see many times even with people who have danced for time. That is that the right elbow drops slightly.If this happens you will have a small right side with your normal left side. From a distance it looks very one sided and doesn't gives the lady the support that she needs needs. Elbows level with each other is to be noted. Some might say my partner is pushing down. The fact is the lower the elbow goes the more the lady will be looking for support. If you strike a lady who does bear down, Lift your arm higher. She won't be able to push down unless she stands on a pair of steps.

This is a really hard one that lots of guys have trouble with. The trick really is to keep the shoulder down and back while the elbow is high.

I think the main trouble is that guys pick up their arm using upper arm and shoulder muscles. The main muscles working should be pulling down in the back. Also rotating the forearm (in the direction of facing the plam slightly upwards) should help. Remeber that the connection with the lady's back should be up and out not squeezing in to keep the lady to you.

I am an open amateur dancer and I find these are the things that make a big difference.

Hello Billman,
I have a background in gymnastics choreography and physical therapy...most people call me "The Posture Lady." Here are a few helpful hints for posture during ballroom dancing (and day to day activities!):
1) Gently pull your shoulder blade down and back and in (you will be using the Lower trapezius muscle). Do this OFTEN while you sit and stand. Your shoulder blades should only be about 4 inches apart from each other...not 8 to 10 inches because of slouching.
2) Try pulling your right shoulder blade down and back and in as you lift your right elbow up to the side. Do this in front of a mirror and avoid shrugging your shoulder. If your right shoulder starts to elevate, stop and start over. Fix your shoulder blade first and then try lifting again. Do 5x per day.
3) Stand with your back against a wall. Pull your lower abdominals UP and IN so that your low back touches the wall. This will give you a solid "center" to start with. (Relax your shoulders though.) Place your bent elbows out to the side and slide your arms up above your head...keeping your low back and abs flat and avoiding shoulder shrugging. Relax your arms back down to your sides. Repeat 3 to 5x per day. Stop any exercise if you have any pain and consult a medical professional if needed.
*Try these three suggestions and best of luck with ballroom posture!
theposturelady@aol.com

What odd creatures ballroom dancers are. The legs start up on the ribcage. The arms start at the shoulder blades. And the spine doesn't stop at the neck , it goes straight up through the skull which only allows it to turn from one side to the other, and not backwards or foreward or over sideways.

hi Posture-lady
Many thanks for this useful advice. I will try it out.
I have a couple of questions (i'm sure i'll have more when i've tried your exercises a few times!)
1)I'm not sure i could slide my hands up above my head without my shoulders shrugging a little. I've tried watching my upper body posture when on weights machines in the gym, and when my upper arms go above horizontal, the shoulders start to come up too. Isn't this normal? and unavoidable.
2)The 'keeping low back against the wall' exercise. Do you mean the whole of the back from coccyx region, through the waist, up to the shoulder blade area?. I thought there was a natural curve, which would keep the waist a little away from the wall. i know dancers are meant to have nice flat backs (the men anyway!) but i didn't think it was necessary to go this far.
Anyway, i'll try your exercises, which might help my long-standing (though slowly improving) problem