Dance Instruction

Tango Clothes

2010-04-20T01:12:00.000-07:00

Tango is a dance of passion and ardour. That’s why style and elegance of the dancers must become its imprescriptible part. One should not forget that in the first instance the dancer should look good in order to make a good impression on the audience. The second rule of tango runs as follows. The given dance foresees the feeling of comfort and on account of this reason tango clothes should not hinder movements of dancers.

As to clothes for women nowadays there is a wide choice of skirts and dresses. Usually skirts can have openings in order to make movements of the women more clearcut and efficient. However the clothes may be of short length. In this case the choice of such skirts also does not restrict the tango movements. From aesthetic point of view tango dresses are trimmed with lace and fringes. The tops of dresses may contain low neck conferring the feeling of sensuality. Women lay a great emphasis on the shoes which are made specially for this dance. One should not forget about some accessories that usually associate with tango. It is a famous fact that women have resort to the use of flowers that are attached to the hair. They also like to use fishnet stockings.

The tango clothes for men are represented by silk shirts and straight cut trousers. The men dancers require tango dance shoes and some accessories like hats, vests and suspenders. All these accessories create an inimitable image of a dancer.

The list of the following pieces of advice may be taken into consideration. They will make the process of dancing more pleasant and stirring.

1 The audience should concentrate their attention on the process of dancing, that’s it is advisable to give preference to one colour clothes which contain one asymmetrical hemline.

2 Stretchy clothes made of fabrics guarantee freedom of movements and especially they simplify the footwork.

3 While choosing tango dresses women should take into consideration the feeling of comfort of their partners. Dresses studded with rhinestones may hamper the partner’s embrace.

4 The shoe’s buckle should not put the dancer to inconvenience. While performing some movements it is advisable to turn the buckle in such a way that it is well out of the follower’s range.

5 Men should give their preference to palazzo and gaucho pants. These pants emphasize the movements and look very attractive.

How to Dance Hula

2010-04-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

Hula is considered to be the traditional dance of Hawaii. The roots of the dance penetrate deep into the ancient times when the native people of the Hawaiian Islands honored the goddess Laka by executing special figures and movements. Nowadays Hula dancing has taken on special significance being a form of entertainment. With the help of Hula dancing people who practice it express their feelings and meanings trough specific movements. Many people attribute to this dance one more function. In their opinion Hula dancing unites the universe spirit with the nature. The dancing contains a story, thus people who perform it can share it with the audience. In order to be successful while telling the story the dancers have to combine facial expression accurately with the fine and clearcut movements of arms, hips, fingers, knees and feet. Every single movement signifies nature and its manifestations. The following instructions and basic steps which are listed below will be very helpful for those people who wish to master the Hula dancing.

The first step has to do with fingers, wrists, hands and arms.

First the person should extend the right arm and hand to the right. Then one has to bow the elbow and to place the palms down. Fingers touch each other. In such position the person puts the left hand on the hip. Then the next complex of movements comes:

1 The dancer raises the wrist gradually bringing up fingers. The wrist has to be lowered.

2 The same movement of fingers and wrist is repeated. The only distinction concerns the forearms and hand. They are moved to the chest.

3 The second step is performed by the person. Further the forearm and hand are moved to the center of the chest. The person should not touch the body.

4 The right hand is placed on the hip, while doing it the fingers have to look down. The same movements are repeated but this time with the left hand, fingers, arm and wrist.

In the second step feet and knees are sprung into action.

The person keeps the usual position. His/her feet are placed about four inches apart. Further the knees are bended and heels have to be raised an inch off the floor. On count 1 the person places the right foot at a short distance of eight or nine inches. On count 2 the left foot is placed to the side of the right one. On count 3 and 4 the same movements are repeated concerning the right and left feet. The following complex of movements is the same, but now the person has to switch over to the left foot instead of the right one.

While dancing the Hula one has to pay a great attention to the hip’s movements. This is the third step. The movements should be smooth and gentle. On counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 the dancer sways his/her hip to the right and then to the left. The correct performance of these movements makes the Hula dancing very graceful.

When all three steps are mastered the dancer brings them all together by carrying out the movements in turns.

How to dance cha-cha-cha

2010-04-20T01:04:00.000-07:00

The well-known dance Cha-cha-cha is a Latin American dance which first appeared in Cuba. The dance is applied widely because its music enjoys wide popularity in such genres as country, funk, hip-hop. The enumeration of the music genres can be even continued. The main feelings that the Cha-cha-cha dance may cause are joy and gladness. While hearing its rhythms and tunes it is difficult to control oneself in order not to come under its influence and not to throw oneself into the dance. The music for this vigorous and energetic dance was written by Cuban composer Enrique Jorrin in 1953.

The Cha-cha has some similarities with rumba and mambo. The main features of the dance are the following: spot turns, the cross-body lead, fifth position breaks, crossover breaks, back spot turn. The back spot turn is also famous as the natural top.

The key part of the dance and namely the function of the leader is assigned to the man. The man takes a checked forward step with his left foot. The main rule consists in the fact that the knee of the right leg must be straight. It must stay close to the back of the left knee. On order to receive part weight the left leg remains straightened. Further the right leg receives the full weight when the dancer makes the second step. This movement is called beat three. The fourth beat includes two steps. Thus the count of the next three steps is 4 and 1. They also make up the Cha-cha chasse.

Then one of the partners makes the following movements. The dancer takes a step backwards on the right foot. In this case the knee taking the full weight must be straightened. The other leg may also remain straight. While carrying out beat three the weight goes to the left leg.

Each partner has the possibility to dance the bar which has been previously performed by the dancer.

It is noteworthy that the classical construction of Cha-cha-cha consists of two bars.

The following tips can be very helpful in order to avoid some mistakes:

1 While taking the steps the dancer should always shift the complete weight.

2 Dancers should not take too large steps.

3 Men should keep their heads up and should not look straight.

4 A good Cha-cha-cha dancer has to practice counting.

5 It is advisable to avoid shaking or twisting the hips.

These golden rules may be very helpful for dancers who want to obtain great results.

Top 10 Greatest Dance Movies

2010-04-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

Producers and filmmakers have brought to our attention a great number of films that open an amazing world of dancing for the audience. Mainly majority of the films tell about the talents and skills of some definite characters and the work which is being done in order to achieve great success. The films which are listed below are considered to be one of the best about these motifs.

· Saturday Night Fever (1997). The film narrates about a young man who decides to follow his vocation and to dedicate his time to dancing. Meanwhile the place and the way of living do not afford him pleasure. So he finds the refuge from his problems at the discotheque. Here he becomes the best dancer. His talent, style and potential are inimitable among the other disco dancers.

· Dirty Dancing (1987). The main character of the film Baby makes the acquaintance with the dance instructor Jonny Castle. Jonny opens a new world of dancing for Baby, world of dirty dancing. Baby being a good pupil masters the new style. What is more she is guided by love towards Jonny and now she is able to display this feeling with the help of the dance.

· Chicago (2002). Roxie Hurt is not happy with her family way of life. She wants to achieve a dream of becoming a celebrity. Her lover promises Roxie to help in realizing this dream. However his promises were groundless and hollow. Roxie does not want to accept this situation and she kills the lover. Soon she finds herself in prison. Due to some casual circumstances Roxie’s idol – singer Velma- is put into the same prison.

· West Side Story (1961). The film represents a modern “Romeo and Juliet”. A Polish boy and a Puerto Rican girl fall in love with each other. However their families disapprove their feelings as they are considered to be rivals.

· All that jazz (1979). This film narrates about creative career of Joe Gideon, about his interrelations with women including his ex wife Audrey and daughter Michelle. Being an egomaniacal workaholic he drives himself to the heart attack.

· That’s entertainment (1974). The documentary film tells about the conception of musicals. The world famous stars comment upon brilliant musical scenes from great films produced by MGM.

· White Nights (1985). The story is about a ballet dancer Nikolai Rodchenko who tries to find a refuge in the West in order to obtain full freedom. Though his planes collapse and he finds himself in his country again.

· Moulin Rouge (2001). The action of the film is developing at the famous Paris club. It is a place where tragedy and comedy are combined and all this happens on the background of beautiful and luxury interior. The story is about a famous beautiful courtesan. Two men, one of them being poor and the other rich, try to win the courtesan’s favour.

· Stomp the Yard (2007). A 19 years-old DJ moves to Atlanta where he enters a local university. In the city DJ discovers a new style of step dancing which is danced by Afro- Americans. The talent of DJ attracts attention of a dancer’s team whose goal is to score a victory at the major championship.

· Step Up (2006). One of the main characters, Nora is a brilliant ballet dancer who attends Baltimore’s elite Maryland School. In order to begin a professional career she needs a dance partner who also yields to no one in this respect. Once the destiny brings her together with a street dancer. Together they begin to make a path to the world of success.

African Dance Styles

2010-04-20T00:50:00.000-07:00

Africa, representing a rather huge continent, is a place where people of different cultures and tribes live together. Of course the role of music and dancing is of great significance nearly for all the countries that are situated in Africa. With the help of the unique dancing and music African people display a great variety of feelings and events. For instance, people resort to the dance when they want to praise or criticize somebody. In spite of such great significance of dancing in this continent it is interesting to note that there is not a definite word for the notion “music”.

In Africa the dance can not exist without two main parts. These key components are voice and drums. African drums serve for the conferring of mood and for the evoking keen interest and lively emotions. The dances bear also a collective character and depend on the age and status structures. Usually African tribes form a circle where they can carry out the movements. Men perform more difficult and active motions that come to jumps and leaps. As to women they dance usually in a crooked knee position.

In contrast to dances that originated in the other continents African dance represents a collective event where the number of dancers exceeds the number of spectators and observers. The majority of the words are replaced by the beats of the drums. The collective dances can be performed on different occasions like birth of children, marriages or reverence of Gods, celebrations of the transfer from childhood to adulthood.

There are a great number of African dances. For example:

Dances of Love

These types of dances are imbued with the feelings of happiness and gladness. Weddings and anniversaries may serve as an occasion for the dance performing.

Welcome Dance

African people dance it when they have the possibility to receive guests. In such a way they show their hospitability and benevolence towards visitors. It is a good chance to display one’s talents and skills.

Coming of Age Dance

Coming of age dance is a symbolic one that signifies the transfer of young men and women from childhood to the adulthood. The heroes of occasions are very proud of being congratulated in such a way as they wait for this event with impatience.

Summoning and Possession Dance

This type of dance is performed in several cases either for “calling a spirit” or foreseeing the draught of a war.

It is obvious that the African dances are very meaningful. They reflect the essence of every single tribe and nationality.

Bridal Waltz - How to Dance

2010-04-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

The bridal waltz has a very symbolic character. It is a symbol of a close unity, harmony and the expression of the innermost feelings. Undoubtedly this dance was created specially for two loving hearts that are experiencing a new period of their relations, the period when their hearts and destinies are uniting. In order to make the bridal waltz a real decoration of the wedding party the bride and groom have to pay great attention to the performing of the dance. As almost any dance is impossible without music the first thing to do is to think upon it and then to choose the most appropriate variant. After completing the task the bride and the groom can get down to mastering the dance.

It should be mentioned that while dancing the bridal waltz the role of the leader is assigned to the man. The woman has to follow the partner’s movements and steps. The main thing for both dancers is to step at the same time. There are three steps that will make the process of dance performing successful.

1. The fundamental part of the bridal waltz has to do with music. The music should correspond to the inner condition of both partners. Having chosen the suitable variant the bride and groom have to learn the technique of music counting. The main thing is to count the music in the same way; otherwise their efforts will be vain.

2. The man begins dancing with the left foot, by taking a step forward. Then he directs his steps to the side with the right foot, next he moves the left foot to the right one. The following thing to do is to step backward with the right foot. The left foot goes to the side and then the dancer has to step backward with the right foot. So both the right and the left feet have to be together. One should take into consideration the fact that all the movements are repeated. We should not forget about steps and the bearing that should be majestic and graceful. It is advisable for men to repeat the following words while dancing: “front, side, together, back, side, together”

3. The woman’s steps are the same, she has only to follow or even to mirror the dance partner’s steps and to start to the back. The bride can repeat the words: “back side together, front side together”

While dancing the partners face each other. The woman keeps the left arm on the partner’s upper left arm. The man in his turn puts the right arm on the partner’s left shoulder and he has to hold her right hand in his left one.

The couple goes round the dance pavilion counterclockwise.

Greatest Dancers of all the Time

2010-04-19T23:04:00.000-07:00

People who know much about music and dancing can enumerate a great number of dancers of all times in the whole world. Their skills and talents can be observed during major dance championships, they can be seen in films, clips, musicals, at concerts. In this article the examples of such great artists as Michael Jackson, Michael Flatley and Isadora Duncan are given.

Michael Jackson entered the world history not only as a sensational singer but also as a great dancer. He arrested the audience’s attention thanks to his unique and incredible dance technique. The very first success in this walk of life came to Michael Jackson after the performing the song “Dancing Machine”. The singer invented a new move which was called “robot”. This innovation was a very great success and after the releasing of that song many people began to imitate this move. Nobody could assume that it was only beginning. Even a greater sensation was caused by appearing of the so called “moon walk”. The “moon walk” was represented by steps up which created the illusion of back motion.

In 1983 Michael Jackson created a real commotion by performing his great songs and dances. It was obvious that the rhythm of music coincided with the motions which were performed by Jackson. Everything was interconnected including songs, music and dances. Michael Jackson’s fantastic turns and rolls, his staggering “moon walk”, the ability to feel every single tone of the music and to respond to it with movements brought the artist the fame of a genius dancer. While watching his performances people had a feeling that Michael Jackson had no bones as the moves were so precise and supple. At the present moment Michael Jackson has a great number of imitators who try to master his unforgettable techniques.

Michael Flatley can be also considered a great personality who dedicated his time and even the whole life to the art of dancing. One of the greatest dancers of all times gained the first victory at the age of 17. It is difficult to imagine but it is a real fact that Michael Flatley received the world titles in dancing for 120 times in 13 countries of the world. In the course of many years Flatley invented a new style of dancing which represented a mixture of the Irish and American step and flamenco. His first show “Riverdance” was a colossal success. It was the first time when the large audience got acquainted with the Irish dancing. In 1996 a new show appeared which was called “Lord of the Dance”. Michael Flatley showed his worth in this performance as dancer, choreographer and musician. Nearly 14 years have passed since the appearance of the show “Lord of the Dance” however nowadays the performance also enjoys wide popularity.

Speaking about great dancers of all time we should include another famous dancer of the previous century Isadora Duncan, who was born in 1877. Isadora Duncan gave preference to the modern style of dancing. She was among the first dancers who began to introduce brave and bold ideas into the process of dancing. Duncan’s famous saying concerning the dance runs as follows: “To dance is to live. What I want is a school of life.” While performing Isadora put her whole soul and energy into it. The worshippers of Isadora Duncan remembered her as a great dancer who was performing the beautiful motions in free-flowing dresses and bare feet.

Salsa Dancing Instructions

2010-04-19T00:53:00.001-07:00

Salsa is characterized through a diversity of styles. The dance itself can be performed differently depending on the country and geographic area. By origin Salsa refers to Cuba. Later it became widespread in Puerto Rico and on the Caribbean Islands.

One of the most distinctive features of Salsa is represented by the beats in the music. The beats in the music should be always accentuated. It is worth mentioning that Salsa is a partner dance. The man takes the role of the leader and consequently the woman has to follow him. The man sets the tone and the rhythm of the dance and at some definite moments he lets his partner understand with the help of pushes and checks how to step and how to move further.

The initial position of Salsa assumes face to face contact. The man holds his partner’s right hand in his left hand. His right hand is placed on the woman’s back. As to the woman’s basic position she has to put her left hand on the man’s shoulder. Both partners look each other in the face.

The next basic moves run as follows. The dancers have to take account of four beat measure. During each four beat measure three weight transfers (steps) are performed. The duration of the “break step” exceeds the other weight changes. Having performed six weight transfers, the partners set about the next step cycle. A great attention is paid to the position of the arms. The position of the arms can be open and closed. In open position the dancers hold the hands in order to perform moves which include turns, going around or rolls. The close position represents face to face contact.

As it was mentioned above Salsa can be performed differently which means that there are a great variety of styles like Los Angeles Style, New York Style, Cali Salsa Style, Miami Style Casino.

As Los Angeles Style regards it has some common features with Mango, Swing and Argentine Tango.

While performing it the dancer pays attention to two main aspects. These aspects are forward or backward basic. The man begins the performing by taking a step forward, and then he steps with his right foot turning 90 degrees counter-clockwise. The woman takes a step forward, and further she makes a turn. During this time her partner turns again 90 degrees counter-clockwise. This is the main principle of performing Los Angeles Salsa Style.

Thanks to its vigorous and inflammatory rhythms nowadays Salsa is famous not only in the Latin America where it appeared but also in the whole world.

Dance Styles

2010-04-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Electronic Dance	1 2 3 4 5	Electro Dance Jump Style Hip-Hop Dance House Dance Breaking	1 2 3 4 5	Electric Dance represents a kind of street dance performed to Electro House Music. In Jump Style the great emphasis is laid on the legs. On the tones of music Jump Style dancers execute forward and backward swings of the legs. The main elements of Hip-Hop Dance are free styling, chippers and battles. The dance is performed to Hip-Hop music. The House Dance was created by Afro and Latino Americans. House Dancers perform fast and complex steps. These elements are combined with movements in the torso. Break Dance was created by Afro-Americans. Later the dance was widespread among Latino Americans. The most important components of Breaking are toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes. Very often it is performed to Hip-Hop music.
Ballroom Dance	1 2 3 4	Waltz Tango Foxtrot Quickstep	1 2 3 4	Waltz is a dance which is performed by two partners in closed position. Tango was created in Argentine. It is danced in closed position, however American style allows the tango dancers to include open position in order to perform moves, turns and to dance apart. Foxtrot is a style of ballroom dance. The basic figures include three step, feather step, natural turn reverse turn, closed impetus. Quickstep has got some similarities with Fast Foxtrot. The style of performing is very energetic, however the dance itself is considered to be very elegant.
Latin Dance	1 2 3 4 5	Mambo Rumba Cha-cha-cha Samba Salsa	1 2 3 4 5	Mambo was created in Cuba. It corresponds to mambo music. Rumba is an energetic dance. The main emphasis is laid on the hip movements. Cha-cha-cha is a dance of Cuban origin. The dance may be performed either to authentic Cuban music or to Latin Pop. Samba is a Brazilian Dance. The dance movements are influenced by Afro-Brazilian traditional dances. Salsa is a fast Latin American Dance which is influenced by jazz music.
Swing Dance	1 2 3	Blues Dance Lindy Hop Charleston	1 2 3	Blue Dance is a modern Term to describe a series of historical dances that were performed to blues music. The basic step of Lindy Hop is swingout. The dance includes the usual eight-count system which is used in European partner dances. However the Lindy Hop may be performed by a single dancer. The dancers have resort to the motions and improvisations of black dances. Charleston enjoyed wide popularity in the 1920’s. It may be performed solo, with a dance partner or in group of couples. The basic step gives the dancers the possibility to have a great number of variations and improvisations.

Dance cha cha cha

2007-04-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

At first you may think that cha-cha-cha is a very quick dance. It is important to make little steps, moving just a little on the floor. Partners hold hands. It is easier to start dancing making a preparatory step in one side. Man makes right foot step, the Lady - the left one.
Then go to basic cha cha move.

1. Man: make a move forward with his left foot, toe is turned a little outside, right foot remains still.
Lady: makes moves to compliment man's moves: a move back with right foot,left leg remains still.

2. Man: change his body center of gravity backward, leaning now on his right foot, the left one remain still.
Lady: change the body center of gravity forward, leaning now on his left foot, the right foot remain still.

3. Man: move his left foot.
Lady: move her right foot.

4. Man: make right foot move in left foot direction.
Lady: make left foot move in right foot direction.

5. Man: makes left foot move.
Lady: makes right foot move.

6. Man: move back his right foot, left foot remains still.
Lady: makes a left foot move forward, the toe is turned outside a little, the right foot remains still.

7. Man: move his body weight forward on his left foot, right one remains still.
Lady: move her body weight to back on her right leg, left one remains still.

8. Man: move his left foot.
Lady: move her right foot.

9. Man: make left foot move in right foot direction.
Lady: make right foot move in left foot direction.

10. Man: move his right foot.
Lady: move her left foot.

Do the cha cha!

2007-04-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Cha cha - is one of the most popular latino dances. Cha cha moves are very similar to rumba moves, with one single difference - cha-cha-cha! This rhythm, so easy to remember, is obtained by division of the 4-th part of time. That why the dance has such name.

At the beginning the cha cha cha dance was a sort of rumba and mumbo, but in 1948 Enrike Horrin combined two latino dances in montuno. In this way a new, fascinating dance appeared. Horin's composition "Anganadora", what means "Delusion" was writed in 1953 and become very popular soon.

Dancers waited for the continuation of composition. A lot of performers began to play easy cha cha cha melody, and after short time almost every musician could perform cha-cha-cha.

A kind of break...

2007-04-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

Acrobatics - "comes" in break with a lot of acrobats and gymnasts. The coolest acrobatics moves look like very difficult break downs - all these somersaults and others.

Capuero - this ancient art is partially breakdance foundator. Capuero moves are widely used by b-boys, for example: BOTY'98 and BOTY'99. One of the most impressionant moves: swip without arm lean.

Ties - each b-boy or b-girl, who learned the basic break moves thinks:"What's next?" If you feel yourself cool, then it's time to learn not only break moves, but also the ties between them. Ties represents the unconfundable style of every breakdancer. The ties assure breakdance beauty and its difficulty.
In fact, a tie is a change between two break moves, without speed and performance beauty loss. The more ties you have the more coole you are. Some of them aren't difficult, another requires time, like a power move.

Track

2007-04-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

One of the most difficult breakdance moves. Track types:
track with legs down on the floor
track trough elbows
one arm track track without arm's leaninig (it is possible only few twists on very high speed )

Air track (Air twist)

This move is on of the most difficult break moves, like the track. You can hardly do a single air twist. Instead, you can easily fracture your arms, legs, neck, head, in function how you fall down. But if you have ever seen this move, you will forget about falls and fear. It is really a POWER MOVE! Train yourself only on floor-mats, in ordet to avoid traumas.

So, let's begin:
The right arm down, swing your left leg up to the right. Put down another arm. Legs are not normal to the floor, but form an angle of 50'. Continue to swing with your legs. When the left leg is passes under the right one(after a strong swing), the right arm also make a swing and tear off the floor. The body is lightly pushed up. Then, when the right arm passes close to the right leg, the left arm also tear off the floor. At the finest moment the body flies up the ground! Fall on right arm, then on the left one and repeat all from the start. It's easy to explain, but difficult to do this move.

Headspin

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This move requires a lot of patience and perseverance. First of all you must be able to stand on head and do not fall in that moment. Find a balancy point on your head(as usual, it is between the forehead and the crown). Then, straighten your legs and move them apart in splits. Hold the body lifted straight and the waist straightened! Then, try to push a little with your arms and pull your body in twisting direction.
Little by little intensify arm's pushes. The arms must be placed no too close to your head, neither too far from it, because it may hinder correct twisting.

Try to increase the speed and the twisting - it will help you to master this move in short time. After you manage to twist well, try take off your arms in the most simple way: bend the legs and turn them to crossed splits, but don't straighten them. Another way is more difficult: bend your legs and turn them down to your head. Be patient and you'll do it!

In order to avoid the injures and to reduce the load, you have to wear a special hat with soft lining inside and slippery material outside, or you can use the helmet.

Breakdance moves: Spins

2007-04-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

Stand on arms, twist the body(first turn your right arm and lift the left leg). When the right arm is down on the floor, change the arm with the left one. When the right arm is on the floor, make a leg's swing as in HeadSpin
Twist the body to the left and push off the floor with your right arm, after you make the swing. Lift your legs and straighten them. The body's twisting must be long. Twist only on your palm's lower side.

Spin types:

99 - alternate arm's changing Elbowspin To arms spin

Breakdance moves:

2007-04-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

Tips: turn your palm outside when twisting, in order to increase the speed and be more steady.

Hendglide: twisting on one arm.
Stand on your arm, straighten the legs, and push off with another arm. This move is much more easier then crack and other moves. All you need is to keep the balancy and to have a slippery material on your arm.

Varants: Horizont - twisting on one arm, the another arm is put near and the body lifts up.
Twisting on one side - you lean now on your side, the belly is perpendicular to the floor, not parallel.

Alligator
It is a special move, and it will make you sweat.
First step: preparing
You have to improve the stand on arms. If you have a lot of place at home, take a round stool. Make sure that the stool is steady. Lean with one arm in stool's center, so that the angle between body and arm is 45' or less. Bend your body, make a step backwards (warning: the body remains straightened) and push off the stool in order to turn, substituting another hand. Lean steady on your arm. In case you have done all corectly, you will rotate in circle. Change with speed your hands, but don't stop leaning on them. This was the first method.

The second method: if you have a window at your house, you sertainly have a window-sill there. Take away the lumber from it. Lean on two arms, the fingers are moved apart, the hands are straightened. Try to walk on your arms, change the lean from one arm to another.

These simple exercises will help you to become familiar with Alligator and Flares.
Second step (Floor): Imagine that you have a middle square on your floor. Try to get with your arms in square corners: one arm folows step by step the another arm. Push off and make the move like on stool, but faster. At the beginning it will look terrible, but every day's trainings would help you to reach good results.

Injures:
you strongly risk to have armache because of such kind of moves. The man got down from the tree in order to procure the food, not to twist Alligator :) You can also strongly graze your palms.

Moves, correlated in some way with Alligator
UFO (Buddha) - the same twisting as in turtle, but without elbow's leaning: the legs remain in the same position, but the arms are straightened a little.
Wolf - legs stay togather, arms by their side.
Upper - like the wolf, but the arms are between the legs.
Space - like the UFO, but with crossed legs.
Crab - turtle on splits - it is like the upper, but legs are in parallel with the ground and wide moved apart.
Airbody - the most difficult turtle. Arms aren't leaninig in your belly, but are simply under it.

Swipes: It consists of simultanious arm and leg swing ( if you make a right swipe, then the swing must also be in the right side). In swip the leg is permanently in "air". You make the swing and move your arm at each turn. The most important: to keep the body straightened, so that the pelvis is high and straight.
The types of swipe:
- touch down on one leg
- touch down on both legs
- elbow's swipes

Spining ( power ) moves:

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Backspin(twisting on the back). The swing is this move plays the most important role. The dancer is sitting on the floor. The left leg is straightened forward. The righ knee is bended. Then the dancer straighten the right leg with speed and turn it to left over his left leg, which remains motionless. The legs are crossed: the right one is on the left side over the left leg. The legs are still straightened. The dancer turn fast the left leg under the right: now legs form an angle. Dancer starts twisting on his back: he lift the legs and croosses them, in order to
increase the speed. Twisting must be made not on your buttocks, but on your shoulder-blade.
While twisting you can jump on your back or lift to upper side of your shoulders in order to increase the speed.

Spining ( power ) moves:
Fall on your back, tumble back, lifting your body on your arms, then fall again, etc. This move must be done in a circle.

Spring:
Fall on your back(don't lean on the arms), then jump forward on your legs.

Floats:
1. Turtle - running in a circle on arms.
Try to lean your elbows on the belly and to lift your body. If you are not in good form you wouldn't do this. At first, you must learn standing on one arm, let another arm just keep the balance. Train both your right and left arm. When you will be able to stand on your right and left hand without any support you can do the turtle. Don't forget about speed - it is easier to perform a fast turtle and it looks very cool.

Cricket - jumping turtle.
Stand on one arm, another arm helps you to jump. The closer the free arm is to your body - the faster you are moving. The hands touch the ground by turns.

Jackhammers - jumps on one hand in a circle.
Learn jump on your single arm - jump with your whole body and touch down whithout thouching the ground.
First, choose the direction to twist. Then, bit by bit try to stay on a single arm. After you learn staying on one arm, try to float on an arm, pushing off with free arm (you must have a material under your arm, before you do it). This move is named HandGlide. You have to learn at east 4 turns from one push. The most difficult moment in Jackhammers is to catch the body after jump, that why try to complicate the HandGlide. For example, try to do it with straightened body. Such moves help to advance the coordination and belly muscles. Now you can start jumping. You have to push off the ground by triangularis and belly muscles - only in this case your body remains alongside to the elbow. Don't jump too high, otherwise you
risk to damage the wrist. First time you may do 1-3 jumps, but regually trainings will conduct you to professional level!

Spining ( power ) moves:

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Spining ( power ) moves:
The first move: a b-boy jumps forward and hits the ground, leaning on his arms. He jumps back from this position, aterizing on his feet.
The second, more difficult: it is the same move, but the dancer's legs are crossed.

A b-boy is standing on the arms, the legs form X with his arms - one leg is in front and the other beside. Then he makes a strong push of the ground and changes legs position (now, the leg, which was in front is placed behind, and vice versa).

Floating on head
To perform this move you must wear a special breakdance cap.
There are 2 ways of head floating:
1: you run up on your head, lean on your amrs at first, then float mechanically on your head.
2: you are standing on your head, the legs are in parallel to the floor. Push off the floor with your palms and slowly float.

Spider
Common move: run in a circle turning somersaults. The more difficult way: run in circle leaning on your palms and feet.

Break:
It is like swipe, but in the air the legs are twisted, then you fall. The break usually is performed like the end of usual swipe.

Worm (dolphin):
1. Lay on the foor on your belly, the whole body touches the floor.
2. Rise your legs and hips.
3. Rise your arms, the legs are drowing down
4. Repeat all the steps from the beginning. It will look like you are crawling the mountains. It is very easy to learn this move, but very difficult to perform it.

A sort of worm:
The same worm, but backwards. It begins like the usual worm, but instead of rising your arms, you rise your elbows till they achieve your hips, then use your legs to jump. Make a move backwards with your arms, and your breast is must be down before your legs. Or, you can do it
from standing on your arms, slowly drow down your breast, then the belly.

Down break styles:

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UPROCK ( Brooklyn Rock ) - it is a fight imitating dance. To feel the rhythm and music - this is the main in the "fight". Nowadays, the uprock is often misplaced with another break element - the toprock.

TOPROCK(Shuffle) - is a dance style, vertical foot work. This dance is very individual, because each dancer has his own toprock style. The transition from toprock to floor elements-downrock, is named godown.

FOOTWORK is one of the first invented breaking moves. You can hardly imagine a good dance without an original chain or fast foot sequence. A good done footwork move looks sometimes better then even powermove.

DOWNROCK ( Floorrock, Footwork ) - the rhythmic steps, circulary around your body. There are a lot of various DOWNROCK elements.
The simplest example: the cutting down. This is the common move, and it can be easy done by everybody, regardless of whether you are in a good shape or not. In fact, the cutting down descends in break from folk russian dances. The dancer sits on the floor on his left leg, and the right leg is straightened to the right side. Then, he moves circulary his right leg in parallel with the floor, leaning on his palms. Then the move is repeated with the left leg.

SPINING ( POWER ) MOVES - these are moves, which requires, as a rule, a good physical strength. But if you don't have a good physical strength you can succeed in performing these moves by accentuating the good mastering of art.

WAVE - a beginner's move. In a serious breakdance it's rarely used. By another side, for the beginner the wave can be a good training. The dancer falls down on his arms. First he touches the ground with his arms, then with his breast, and finally with his legs.

Down Break moves and styles:

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The down break has 4 interrelated directions:
Uprock and Toprock - it isn't completely down break, but it is necessary for powermoves.

Spining moves or power moves
Power elements, circular motions.

Freeze
Body fixation

Footwork
A sequence of foot moves

Down Break Styles:

Uprock and Toprock,    Footwork,       Freeze,            Spining(power)moves,
Wave,                               Foot-arm, Stilts ,         Spider, Worm,       Backspin,
           Float                                  Alligator                Mills                   Headspin                Flares    Swipes                 Candle                    Track                 Air Track

Breakdance moves: top break

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How do you imagine a real breakdancer? For most of people, a breakdancer is somebody "whirling on his head", elbows, arms, etc. on the sparkling floor in a club or in the street. But what you can see it is just the top of a giant iceberg. One of the components of this iceberg is top break.

Top break is a new dancing style wich has appeared relative recently. It is impossible to find out, who was the first top break dancer, because it happened 20 years ago in USA. Some moves, very popular nowadays, have been used by dancers even 100 years ago, some come from the asiatic dances. The slave dancers became in some way the "founders" of modern top break moves, such as body and arm waves. The fast growing technical inventions and civilization achievements "gave rise" to people-robots, who imitated in their dances automatic and mechanical robots' moves. They are named the fathers of the modern top break.

Today the top break is one of the most progressive breakdance components. For maximal effect you should combine all top break styles, for example: it looks really beautiful when a waving is folowed by different fixations. You are absolutely free and you have no limits in composing yor own, inconfundable dance style.

Breakdance: Before You Start It

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So, you decided to become a breakdancer. It doesn't matter where and how did you find out about break. As usual, people "come in break" for one of 3 main reasons: because it is really COOL(ok, the human envy and vanity also play its roles here), the second reason: because you simply like breakdancing(a very strange reason, isn't it?:), and finally: because you have nothing else to do. Only first two reasons lead to real passion to breakdancing and good results. In first case the desire to perfection works in your favour: it makes you continue trainings and not abandone
them, in second case it is more difficult: you must have a very strong will in order to obtain good results. The third variant isn't relevant.

What's next? The 90% of break dancers come from break schools. It means only one thing - find the roads leading to some kind of break-club or break-school. Don't forget, that some of your friends may also like dancing. Together you will form you own "band". Now, it is the moment to choose the leader, who will be able to resolve all problems andYou are the most difficulties. And why not to give this crucial role to you?:)

Now is the time to resolve organizational problems. At first you have to find a suitable place for dances. If it is summer time, it will not be a big problem - the porches, chldren's playgrounds, empty sites may become your dancepool.
It is much more difficult to organize trainings in winter. The room must be warm and dry. You can find something like a cellar, but: it must be not only dry and warm, but also clean and high. Also, you can make an agreement with administration of a school to rent for a reasonable cost a gym or a suitable classroom. The trainings must take place at least 3-4 times per week, if you really want to succeed in breakdance.

The next important component is the music. The most popular and easy to get are: Music Instructor, Bomfunk mc's, Jam Style & Da Boogie, Chemical brothers, even Prodigy. About breakdancer's clothing style you can read in one of the next articles.

Now you are ready to start! Learn breakdance tips from our on-line lessons and soon you will achieve fabulous results in these extremal dance!

The Universal Break Dance Floor - Fibreboard

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What does fibreboard means for breakdance? It is the same as land for animals, air for birds, water for fish ... it is something indispensable for a break dancer. The fibreboard is an universal floor, it isn't slipperry, it is smooth, not sticky...it has a lot of values, but the main! you can take it with you! (even though it is certainly not a pack of cigarettes. , but you must agree, it can't easily be taken ... eee ... a training apparatus for athlete ... or swimming pool for swimmer:)

You can get fibreboard in different ways ... in father's garage, for example, or "borrow" one piece from a building site ,and finally you can buy it ... ok, I don't know what does is there in your father's garage ... and I don't know if you even have a father's garage... At a site you can alwaways find something like fibreboard, but the pieces are of 1.5x2.5 or 2x3 meters ... that why the most simple is ..., yes, to buy it :), the most inexpensive way to get a proper fibreboard piece is to buy it at the construction market.

You must have a big dance floor that why you need a lot of fibreboard! Every breakdancer must have the place for his dancefloor at home,... ,at gym,... and a piece to be taken out in streets... remember the fibreboard is not durable! When it is at home ... it will "serve" for you and your trainings longer than if it has been used outdoors... when it becomes obliterated it loses its properties.

Break Dance: at Start

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What you must be able to do at start:
standing on your hands(or on your one hand) and on your head (for "candles" and acrobatics);
standing at "tatle" and at your one hand (for cricket and different twistings );
having dezvolted and enduring your abdominale muscles (for "dalasal" and else); strong back muscles (for "swipes");
having a good stretching and even-splits (for "freeze", "dalasal", etc.);
It would be better if you can do all of these :)