8 Triplets in your Shoulders%3A Solo

COURSE: Swinging Triplets

FOCUS: This lesson focuses on incorporating triplet rhythms into shoulder movements while dancing solo, teaching two variations: up-and-down and forward-and-backward motions, and integrating them with footwork.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Stand with feet under hips and keep shoulders back and down, using back muscles to pull them down instead of lifting with top shoulder muscles.
• Add rhythm by accenting beats and including 'and' counts between them, such as 'one, and, and, two, and, and'.
• Sync shoulder movements with footwork, e.g., stepping on the right foot while the right shoulder goes down.
• Practice shoulder movements subtly, avoiding hip involvement, and hold hips still if they try to move.
• Combine shoulder rhythms with a basic step, keeping leg movements unchanged while shoulders move independently.
• Practice during daily activities like waiting for a kettle to boil to build comfort and subtlety in the movements.

REMEMBER:

• Maintain a long neck and relaxed shoulders to prevent them from rising toward the ears during movements.
• Focus on subtle shoulder motions to enhance rhythm without overexertion or unnecessary body tension.
• Coordinate shoulder and foot rhythms separately to develop independence in upper and lower body movements.
• Use both up-down and forward-backward shoulder variations to add versatility to your dance style.
• Integrate shoulder triplets into basic steps to build fluidity and musical connection in your dancing.