3 Arm Placement

COURSE: awesome-arms

FOCUS: This lesson focuses on arm placement techniques for dance, specifically teaching how to position hands on various body parts to create different shapes and emphasize other movements.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Place hands in pockets to keep arms still and look cool, especially if unsure what to do with them.
• Keep elbows up and maintain a line of energy across the chest when hands are on the chest to avoid a lazy appearance.
• Use hands on thighs to draw attention to fancy footwork while keeping arms still.
• Experiment with elbow direction (forwards, side, or back) and hand orientation (palm up or down) when hands are on the hips for varied styling.
• Roll shoulders down and maintain posture when hands are on hips to avoid giving up on upper body energy.
• Place hands on the butt with elbows back and shoulders back to create a nice shape in the back, adding walking styles for fun.

REMEMBER:

• Arm placement should emphasize other body movements and shapes, not draw too much attention to the arms themselves.
• Details like elbow position and hand orientation significantly impact the overall styling and shape of the arms.
• Use arm placements as safe starting points if unsure, but vary them to avoid looking awkward throughout the dance.
• Maintain energy and purpose in arm shapes, even when they are still, to enhance overall posture and movement.
• Consider the context of the dance, such as highlighting footwork or hip moves, when choosing hand placements.
• Experiment with different placements to find what feels good and suits your body and the dance style.