If you’re competing in dance competitions or just want to add some flair to your routine, there are plenty of tricks you can try out. From aerials to group tricks, there are endless ways to add some pizzazz!
Just remember, while these moves can be enjoyable and add some flair, they should never take away from your overall dance technique. Put the focus on building your foundation and making the most of what you’ve learned so that your arsenal of tricks becomes solid and stage-worthy.
Aerials
Aerial dance is a modern form of performance art that utilizes aerial props like silks, hoops and trapezes to execute moves in the air. This art form can be seen in many different genres of dance such as jazz, ballet and lyrical.
Aerials offer dancers the chance to express their creativity and master tricks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible on land. Not only that, but aerials also allow them to show off their strength and agility.
There are various types of aerials, each with its own distinct movement and technique. Classic aerials such as jumps and cannonballs, Charleston jumps, lifts, flips, base aerials and dips are some examples.
The Lindy Hop is one of the world’s most beloved aerials. It involves two dancers standing back-to-back, locking arms, and then one dancer bends over, picking up their partner and carrying them off the floor – a move first performed by Frankie Manning and Freda Washington in 1935.
Perform aerials can be risky and not for everyone, but they are an excellent way to wow your audience. It’s wise to practice them in the comfort of your own home before performing them at a dance hall.
Some aerials require a great deal of practice and can be challenging to master, so working with a professional coach is recommended in order to learn how to execute them safely. This is especially important for aerials involving acrobatic moves as these can be strenuous or potentially hazardous.
Practice with someone nearby to spot for you as you do the moves, so that if something goes awry someone can assist. This is particularly essential when learning how to do a Lindy or Swing aerial as these tricks require speed and often take place too close to the ground for a spotter to see them clearly.
Some of the most popular aerials to learn are the Lindy Flip and Pancake. These tricks are great for beginners to master, but there are many other exciting tricks you can perform to make your performances more thrilling for viewers.
Group Tricks
Group tricks refer to any technique requiring three or more dancers, and can be an excellent way to add visuals and improve the quality of an acro dance routine.
Group choreographies can be practiced more effectively using these movements, since they can be performed successively. This skill set is beneficial in a range of performances from acro to hip hop.
Group tricks can be challenging to execute due to the extensive coordination required between dancers. Each member of the team must possess excellent communication abilities and have complete trust in their fellow performers.
Finding qualified instructors to teach the proper technique for group tricks can be a challenge, especially the more complex ones like aerials.
When seeking a teacher for your desired trick, be sure to inquire about their expertise. They may have some helpful hints that could help accelerate progress toward your objective.
One of the most popular group tricks is a bridge pyramid, which can be performed by up to three dancers. In this trick, two dancers form the base of the triangle and other dancers either stand, kneel, handstand or headstand on top of them for added height and support.
Another popular group trick is a double cartwheel, which can be an effective way to develop coordination between dancers. In this move, one partner squats down and grabs onto the thighs of their partner, allowing them to rotate on top of one another and perform a cartwheel.
Performance of these moves can be challenging as they require strong body control and perfect timing. But with practice and the guidance of an experienced instructor, anyone can master these dance steps.
Double cartwheels can be truly stunning when performed correctly. The first partner begins in a squat position and grabs the thighs of their partner as she comes around and catches him mid-rotation.
Spotting
Spotting is an essential skill for dancers to master. This ability will enable them to make safe turns and prevent injury.
Spotting allows a dancer to focus their attention on one point and avoid dizziness. Additionally, it helps reduce the likelihood of falling or getting injured during a move.
Beginners may find this skill challenging, but mastering it is essential for success. You can use it in a variety of moves and particularly during turns like pirouettes or half-chaines.
The body relies on three systems to maintain balance: the visual system, vestibular system and proprioception (body position awareness). Spotting helps connect these systems together, making it especially crucial during pirouettes or other advanced turns where 360 degrees of visual information must be processed.
Conversely, a slipperiest spot can lead to disorientation and even fall. It also de-coordinates turns, placing both the dancer and her audience at risk.
Spotting is an essential skill for all dancers, whether beginner or expert. It’s especially beneficial for aerialists as it enables them to execute poses that would otherwise be difficult without assistance.
To guarantee proper spotting, it’s essential to adhere to some safety protocols. First and foremost, spotters must wear appropriate clothing and shoes which won’t cause them to trip over.
Next, they should keep their hands and arms close to the body to avoid twisting and potentially injuring themselves.
Finally, educators should attempt to communicate with their students as needed. Doing so will enable them to feel competent and focused, which in turn builds greater student assurance.
Spotting is an essential skill for all dancers, but especially during turns like pirouettes and half-chaines. Additionally, aerialists find spotting to be especially beneficial since it allows them to perform poses that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without help.
Turns
Turns are an essential element of dance. They involve rotating your body around a vertical axis and can be found in ballet, gymnastics and many other forms of performance. Full turns usually consist of one complete rotation (known as a full turn), but quarter and half turns may also be possible.
Turns in dance can range from pirouettes and attitude turns to the more challenging’sustained’ turn. This latter turn requires great precision and strength of execution for successful execution, making it one of the more difficult turns in dance.
A sustained turn is performed with one leg at a time, and requires evenly balanced steps to be taken. The body rotates 180 degrees on each step while the weight shifts between the legs. This type of turn can also be performed on one leg.
Another essential turn is a sustained turn, in which a dancer steps to parallel second position with both legs, pulls in one leg and crosses it behind their prep leg, then brings the other leg back in to meet it – thus completing the turn.
Pirouettes are an iconic dance move that requires incredible body control to execute. As such, audiences often remember pirouettes when watching a ballet performance.
Ballet features three types of pirouettes: en dehors, en dedans and a la seconde. Each has its own name but all share the same principle of turning inward or outward.
Pirouettes are typically performed with one foot, with the supporting leg in various positions. A pirouette en dehors is done in the direction of the raised leg, while a pirouette en dedans goes in the opposite direction.
An attitude turn is a traveling turn that often requires assistance from your partner. The working leg should be in an attitude position while the support leg remains high releve and rotates with the dancer. This maneuver is difficult to learn and requires plenty of practice before becoming proficient.
Pivot turns, also known as twist turns, are maneuvers in which the performer rotates their body around a vertical axis without moving. They’re commonly seen in jazz and ballet performances but can also be performed elsewhere. For this maneuver, arms are brought together away from chest level while spotting technique is employed to fix head position on an object so that balance remains maintained during rotation.