How Dancers Can Achieve a Better Body Line
The Importance of Lines, and How they Benefit Dance Students
Oct 20, 2009
Dancers' lines are the way in which their limbs extend through the space in which they are dancing. Line describes the dancers' use of the space around them. Whether or not a dancer has exceptionally long limbs or lengthy proportions does not matter in terms of lines. There are ways for every dancer to elongate what he or she does have. Below are steps that dancers can take to find their perfect lines.
Step 1: Be Aware of the Space Taken Up by the Body
Dancers should always be conscious of their bodies, whether in motion or standing still. There should be a constant effort to extend the body in every direction, lengthening the neck, lowering the shoulders, and extending the limbs.
Dancers should also be aware of what works for their individual bodies. They should learn which angles can appear to shorten their lines, and which angles add length to their limbs. In most cases, parallel lines (an arm extended toward the back with the leg up in first arabesque, for example) will give the illusion of length.
Step 2: Use the Space around the Body to the Fullest
Unless otherwise instructed in the choreography, legs should be fully extended at all times. Straight, high leg-lines can make everything else on the dancer appear longer. A more open attitude position, for example, can make the upper body appear more open and lengthened through the torso. Straighter arms with lowered shoulders can also make the arms and neck lines look longer.
A dancer's head is an extension of his or her torso, and should always be lifted. Body lines can look more finished, or polished, by lifting the chin instead of looking straight to the front. The gaze should always be focused beyond the dancer's fingertips, to complete the illusion of extended lines.
Step 3: Keep the Posture Intact While Extending the Lines
Even during periods of stillness, dancers should never slouch. If the shoulders pull forward, the chest caves in to the body, and the hips tuck under, a dancer will seem shorter than he or she actually is. Instead, dancers should continuously think about lengthening the spine - pressing the body into the floor while simultaneously lifting to the ceiling. Practicing this posture in the mirror can help dancers to achieve perfect lines for their own bodies.
Step 4: Continue to Focus on Extended Lines During Movement
Dancers should remember to extend their lines through movements, as well. Transitions are important between large movements, so that dancers maintain their energy throughout a piece. Creating longer lines is not only about the grande jete in the air; it is also important for the transition steps that take the dancer into the air.
Travelling steps should be taken as large as possible. If a dancer keeps his or her movements small and in place, he or she will appear to be short or timid on statge. The larger these steps can be, the longer the lines appear on the dancer.
Dancers should also keep in mind that stopping short after each step cuts off their lines. Extending an extra inch through the feet or fingertips in any movement, before moving on to the next step, has a large effect on the length of a dancer's lines.
By practicing these techniques regularly, dancers can achieve a longer, leaner, more effective line in performance.
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