step dancing

Body: 

My two younger daughters want to start taking step dance (irish) lessons, and I was wondering about the posture, it seems they hold the shoulders back, not down. (From youtube videos I have seen.) Perhaps one of you ladies might know the answer to this. My girls stand in proper posture now, as they are young, but I don't want to enter them in a program that tells them to suck and tuck. Thanks!

Forum:

Hi Agnusdei,

It is good to hear from you. My little granddaughter is becoming an accomplished step dancer and grandma is behind the scenes running interference between the shoulders back, gut in posture that is taught, and WW posture. It is so obvious...the girls who have the stability of more lumbar curvature can move their legs and feet with greater ease and precision. Yet, the teachers don't get the connection. I have been wary of making myself unwelcome by suggesting such a fundamental change to their otherwise good teaching, but I certainly feel it's okay to influence my granddaughter - and she is becoming a fine dancer.

Hope this helps :-)

Christine

P.S. My big dream in life - lol - is to become a Scottish Country dance teacher, and the first thing I will do is correct everyone's posture. It makes all the difference.

Hello, I think I will give it a try and see how it goes. I have to choose between a true Irish step dance class, and a step dance class. I am not sure on the difference if there is one, although the teachers seem to be sure each program is better. That would be something to become a Scottish dance teacher, and be able to turn the posture into WW for all students! Hope you do someday!

Merry Christmas!