Before we dance, we breathe. Before we move our limbs, we learn to move our spine. Functional breathing is essential for health and well-being, as well as for success in dance, and core stability helps to keep our spine and other joints safe while we dance. Furthermore, breathing habits and core stability are intimately co-dependent! However, many dancers struggle to find both good breathing patterns and strong core support while dancing.

This class will guide students through a simple series of movements with imagery and breath coordination. This class is not designed to necessarily enhance core strength, but rather to increase core awareness in order to achieve better stability of the spine and pelvis. When we dance we use a wide range of breathing patterns with a diversity of movements. This class suggests specific coordination of breath and movement, not to suggest that this is how you will always move, but rather to establish one clear pattern of support from which you can build more complex habits. Consider this a meditation on breath and core.

After this class, students should feel more centrally supported and integrated in mind and body. This class can be used before a more physical warm up, as a way to “reset” after a long and stressful day, or as part of an ongoing plan to improve breathing habits, core stability, and coordinated movement patterns.

Category: Audio