![]() ![]() Below are the ones I see most frequently. For others, there are common mistakes made when a beginner tries a spiral roll for the first time. Common mistakesĪs I’ve noted, for some students the mechanics of this roll come easily. Standing – Dancers can also practice this head-tail connection while standing. Sinking the belly button toward the floor while the head and tail reach to the sky could be a puppy or a cow. Looking at the belly button while arching the back might be a cat or a camel. On the knees – Some teachers use animal imagery to help children fine their head-tail connection. ![]() Dancers can learn to establish this connection by practicing flexion and extension of the spine. The relationship between the distal ends of the spine is also elemental in this roll. Observing this feeling of spiral while stationary will be key in helping dancers understand the direction and initiation of the roll. The initiating hip causes the same leg to inwardly rotate. In a wide second position, starting with one hip, begin a spiraling motion that twists the torso sequentially through to the cervical spine and includes the visual focus. Standing – The standing spiral is most directly related to the spiral roll. These contralateral spiraling movements are reproduced in Bartenieff’s fundamental exercises and are very useful to the modern dancer. Their head turns toward the eyes, the opposite fingers reach toward the object, and suddenly a baby rolls over for the first of many times. Infants, yet unable to walk but whose vision and grasp have greatly improved since birth, begin to reach for nearby objects. Lying down – Human beings first practice spiraling lying down. Twists, or spirals are a great addition to any warm-up. We see variations of such spirals often in yoga practice. Seated – A familiar way to practice spiraling is with a seated twist. If you are struggling with any part of the spiral roll feel free to try the following elemental movements on your own or with guidance from your teacher: Spiraling the torso There are students who innately understand the spiral roll even if they’ve never seen or done it before. The spiral action in this example does not continue – the dancer just rises to a standing position.Īs with almost any dance step, this one can be broken down to its most fundamental movements and practiced for better understanding. In the class exercise by Lorienne Beals below, you can get a good look at the inward rotation of the back leg that folds the legs. Here’s a quick montage of a student demonstrating spiral roll repetitions: When crossing from the other side, I have students lead with the other leg. This can be done over and over across the floor if the dancer completes one more rotation as s/he stands and then leads with the same lunging leg each time. And allow the dancer to continue in any number of ways, including to spiral upward in another rotation or simply stand with weight on the opposite foot.įor beginners practicing this roll, I often use the ascending spiral to set my students up to repeat another lunge, spiral, and roll.During which the head and knees come close together and the legs “unwind”….Which brings the dancer to the floor in a seated roll over the posterior (backside) pelvis or sacrum….That causes the back (non-lunging) leg to “tuck,” or rotate inward and fold….This is followed by a spiral of the torso initiating from the pelvis….Begins with a lunge to the front or side.Contemporary dance terminology is often inconsistent so if this movement has an alternative name in your corner of the dance world, I’d love to hear about it in the comments! To keep things simple, I call the movement I’m about to explain a “spiral roll”. Oddly, I’ve found its explanation has been neglected online… until now! For beginners or those new to floor work in dance, I’ll break down and help you troubleshoot this spiraling roll to the floor. I teach this spiral, tuck and roll movement all the time in my own modern dance classes because even first-time dancers pick it up quickly with proper introduction and because it is a “safe” and controlled way to quickly and smoothly get to the floor. “spiral” by Martin Fisch is licensed CC BY SA 2.0 One of the most basic and frequently performed, however, is a controlled spiral to the floor. get to the floor) in modern or contemporary dance techniques and choreography. There are hundreds of ways to “fall” (i.e. ![]()
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