Balance: On & Off

 

 I

Unit: Elements of Dance

Theme: Balance

 

Introduction 


 A dancer travels through space, turns on its own axis, elevates his/her body on his/her metatarsals, makes gestures, remain in stillness, uses all body parts, does floor-work and continuously transfers weight from one side of the body to the other. Achieving stillness while in balance is mostly appreciated when coming from a position of imbalance. Going from an off balance position to a position of balance and vice versa is the skill we are developing today.

 

 II

Learning Objectives

 

  • Understand balance from a dancer's point of view 
  • Explain what the body has to do to achieve a position of balance 
  • Gain an awareness of body weight and it influence on achieving a position of balance
  • Experience positions that help is to achieve balance

 

III

 

WarmUp

Stretching


IV


1

 Concepts

 

Picture


 Balance

 Balance in dances means there is no force or torque supporting the dancer. In order to keep your balance, force is not needed because your momentum does not change and torque is not needed because your angular momentum does not change. 

Question 1

How would you explain balance from a dancer's point of view?



Balance is all about gravity and your center of gravity. In order to stay completely balanced you center of gravity must be directly above the area of contact you have with the floor. 

Question 2 

What needs to happen for the body to achieve balance?


That’s why when you balance larger objects onto smaller objects, you tend to place that object in the middle so that it is equal on both sides meaning it is completely balanced. If you place one side of the larger object onto the small object, the larger object will fall showing that it is unbalanced.

Thus,  balance is keeping weight equal on all sides. 

Question 3

How is weight related to the achievement of balance?

 

 

Source:  https://thephysicsofdance.weebly.com/balancing.html

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2

 


 Question 4

What four yoga poses help us achieve balance?

 

 V

 A Note to Remember

 

Balance is always negotiated while we move. However, achieving balance while engaging in challenging positions is a skill dancers learn to conquer.

 

VI

Activity


Students will experience alignment and balance through a yoga session & movement explorations.

They will choose 8 moves that require balance and create a phrase.

 

 Students making up, record your phrase and post it on Discussion Board.

 

VII

Journaling 
 
 
VIII
 
Glossary 
 
 
IX
Sources 
 
Elements of Dance. https://www.turton.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/02/Dance-Key-Words.pdf

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