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Develop nonlocomotory skill: Swing

This is an excerpt from Creative Dance for All Ages 3rd Edition With HKPropel Access by Anne Green Gilbert.

A swing is the movement of a body part in an arc or circle. The swing begins with the release of the swinging part into gravity, then the lift and suspension on the other side of the arc, and the drop back into the pull of gravity again. The swing is distinguished from the sway by the weight of the drop and the moment of suspension before the drop again. The arms can swing from the shoulders, the head from the neck, the trunk from the hips, and the legs (one at a time) from the hips.

Variations of Swing

Place: Swing body parts in self-space. Practice swinging body parts while traveling through general space. Try letting the swinging motion be the impetus that moves you through space.

Level: Practice swinging body parts on different levels, and practice letting your swing move through different levels (high-low-high).

Size: Small swings are created by using less force, and large swings are created by increasing the force that begins the swing. The arc can go from very small to large to a full circle.

Direction: Try arm, leg, and torso swings that move forward and backward, then side to side. All swings involve the up-down direction. Practice swinging arms together in the same direction, in opposition, in a figure 8 shape, in half circles, and in full circles. When swinging the leg in different directions, engage core muscles and stand tall on the stationary leg to maintain balance. Seated dancers can swing both legs forward and backward and side to side.

Pathway: The swing draws a curved pathway in the air. Swing arms in a figure 8 pattern. Explore drawing circular pathways as the arms swing down, up, and around. Practice swinging while moving through space in different pathways. You can create zigzag pathways by sliding right and left while swinging the arms in a full circle to the right and then to the left.

Speed: Swings cannot be done too slowly or too quickly or they lose their swinging quality. The swing starts slowly, drops with speed, and then slows down at the height of suspension. Explore swinging with different speed, and discuss the results.

Energy: The swing is a smooth movement. A sharp movement can be used to initiate a swing, but it gives a different quality to the movement. Try doing sharp swings, and discuss the results.

Weight: Weight is the most important part of a swing. Without weight, the swing becomes a sway. The swing moves from light (suspension) to strong (drop) to light (suspension) weight.

Body parts: Practice swinging various body parts (such as the arms, legs, torso, and head) one part at a time, and then two or three at a time.

Relationship: Practice swinging various body parts simultaneously, such as arm and leg, two arms and leg, head and leg, or head and arms. Swing arms across each other. Practice swinging while mirroring a partner and then in opposition to a partner. Try it in a side-to-side direction and then forward and backward.

Images: roller coaster, playground swing, trapeze, elephant trunk, hammock, big wave.

More Excerpts From Creative Dance for All Ages 3rd Edition With HKPropel Access

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