Modern Dance Terminology
parallel - knees and toes are pointing directly in front of you.
contraction - activating the core muscles (abdominals, obliques, gluteals, iliopsoas, hamstrings) and bringing one part of the body closer to the other, namely, the head to the pelvis forming the letter C.
release - letting go of a contraction
flat back - bending at the waist 90° with the back fully extended
forced arch - the toes are on the floor, the heels are raised as high as possible with the knees bent, forcing the arch of the foot above the ball of the foot.
hinge - bending at the knee with the heels raised off the floor, the core is tightened and in line with the knees, the line from the knees to the head extends diagonally as the dancer attempts to get his torso closer to the floor.
lateral - the torso is tilted directly to the side, the shoulders are in line with the hips as if the dancer is attempting to fit between two extremely close walls.
spiral - rotating the upper torso in the opposite direction of the lower torso
opposition - moving in one direction while feeling resistance in the complementary direction.
pleading - a contraction lying on the back
X-position - lying on the floor on your back with the arms and legs extended out to the diagonals in the shape of an "X."
fetal position - lying on your side with the legs and torso tucked, similar to the shape of a fetus in the womb.
contraction - activating the core muscles (abdominals, obliques, gluteals, iliopsoas, hamstrings) and bringing one part of the body closer to the other, namely, the head to the pelvis forming the letter C.
release - letting go of a contraction
flat back - bending at the waist 90° with the back fully extended
forced arch - the toes are on the floor, the heels are raised as high as possible with the knees bent, forcing the arch of the foot above the ball of the foot.
hinge - bending at the knee with the heels raised off the floor, the core is tightened and in line with the knees, the line from the knees to the head extends diagonally as the dancer attempts to get his torso closer to the floor.
lateral - the torso is tilted directly to the side, the shoulders are in line with the hips as if the dancer is attempting to fit between two extremely close walls.
spiral - rotating the upper torso in the opposite direction of the lower torso
opposition - moving in one direction while feeling resistance in the complementary direction.
pleading - a contraction lying on the back
X-position - lying on the floor on your back with the arms and legs extended out to the diagonals in the shape of an "X."
fetal position - lying on your side with the legs and torso tucked, similar to the shape of a fetus in the womb.
