9 Shoulder Rolls

COURSE: awesome-arms

FOCUS: This lesson focuses on shoulder rolls as a subtle way to incorporate shoulders into dancing, emphasizing small, controlled movements using back muscles rather than lifting the shoulders.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Think about drawing the shoulder blades down the back to circle the shoulders down, not lifting them up.
• Practice shoulder rolls with arms relaxed to let the shoulder do the dancing, allowing the hand to move naturally.
• Place a hand on the hips and keep it still while rolling the shoulder to practice isolation.
• Use a wall to isolate shoulder muscles by placing the elbow against it and rolling the shoulder without moving the elbow.
• Alternate between dancing with the body and focusing on shoulder rolls to add variety and rhythm.

REMEMBER:

• Shoulder rolls should be small and subtle, not big or exaggerated.
• Engage the big muscles in the back to control the movement, avoiding lifting the shoulders.
• Shoulder rolls can be done with both shoulders together, one shoulder, or alternating, and at any rhythm.
• Use shoulder rolls when the body is still to make the shoulder the focus and avoid overwhelming the dance.
• Practice isolation to prevent the whole arm from moving during shoulder rolls.