PFW Intro to Dance- Modern Terms

Spine Cervical

the vertebrae of the neck

Spine Thoracic

the vertebrae of the chest area

Spine Lumbar

the vertebrae of the lower back

Homolateral Movement

asymmetrical movement of one upper limb and the lower limb on the same side

Contralateral Movement

diagonal movement of one upper limb with the opposite lower limb

flexion

a bend or decrease in the angle of the joint

extension

to straighten or lengthen the joint

contraction

when the mid-section pulls against the movement

initiation

the body part or location from where the movement begins

core initiation

movement initiated by the center

distal initiation

movement initiated by the body part furthest away from the core

alignment

the ability to efficiently organize the body in relationship to dancing

6 points:

triangle of feet

behind the knees

hips

floating ribs

shoulders

mastoid process (behind the ear)

core-distal

energetic relationship between the center and the limbs

head-tail

energetic relationship between the head and the tailbone (coccyx)

release

the relationship of the body with gravity, and the ability to let go of the unnecessary muscular tension

roll down

the ability to round over one vertebrae at a time, starting with the cervical, moving through the thoracic, and ending with the lumbar

flat back

torso suspended horizontally in space like the top of a table (flexion @ hip joint)

lateral

side bending of the body

lateral-T

leg and arms are parallel to the floor

figure four

one leg crosses at the thigh of the other

table top

knee to hip is parallel to the front wall

spiral

a twisting action of the spine or joints

prance

the transfer of weight from one leg to another; most common locomoter modern step

triplet

three steps done in a down, up, up sequence

side pull

one level movement pulling to side

attitude swings

swinging from front to back

stag

both legs bent in the air

swing release

releasing over the body