6 Chest Rotation

COURSE: Dancing to Delta Blues

FOCUS: This lesson focuses on chest rotation in Delta Blues dance, teaching how to integrate chest movements with hip rotations and weight shifts for expressive, intimate dancing.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Start with weight shifts from the feet to feel the hips and chest in a snakey motion.
• Draw small circles with the chest parallel to the ground, focusing on forward, side, and back movements.
• Connect chest rotation with stepping underneath to maintain flow between hips and chest.
• Experiment with drawing circles on one side of the chest, like around the shoulder, then switch directions.
• Combine chest and hip motions by taking energy from the ground into the lats, hips, and chest.
• Practice with minimal steps, using just weight shifts to keep movements small and intimate.

REMEMBER:

• Focus on natural movements that arise from hip rotations to enhance torso expression.
• Maintain a connected flow between body parts rather than isolating movements.
• Keep chest rotations small to emphasize intimacy and personal expression in the dance.
• Use weight shifts as a foundation before adding torso movements for better control.
• Experiment with different circle sizes and directions to explore how the chest responds.
• Dance for yourself, prioritizing self-expression and exploration over large motions.