Movement Awareness Flashcards
What are locomotor movements
physical actions that allow the body to travel from one place to the next
What is walking?
Lifting and setting down each foot in turn while travelling in a direction
What is running
Moving at a speed faster than a walk, without having both feet on the ground at the same time
What is hopping
Movement by jumping off one foot and landing on the same foot
What is skipping
Moving by stepping on one foot, followed by a hop on the same foot. Continue alternating feet.
What is jumping
Pushing off a surface into the air, either off one foot or two, but landing on both feet with a slight bend in the knees
What is crawling
Moving forward on the hands and knees or dragging the body close to the ground
What are non-locomotive movements
actions that allow the body to move without changing location, mainly through the use of the limbs.
What is bending
Moving the body into a curve or angle
What is stretching
Straightening of the joints or extending the body to its full length
What is twisting
rotating around a stationary point
What is turning
Moving in a circular direction around an axis or a point
What is posture
the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting
What is alignment
arrangement in correct relative positions
What does proper alignment help with
stability, balance and by extension movement.
List as many bodily aspects of proper alignment as possible
The hip, knee and ankle should always be in equal rotation
Shoulders should be back and down, opening the chest
Core should be engaged to prepare your body for movement
Feet should be sturdy (no sickling or pronating)
Weight should be evenly spread between all toes
No hyper extension or flexion
Pelvis should not be posteriorly aligned or anteriorly
Be aware of natural curvature of the spine
Chin should not be too far forward or back
what are some symptoms of bad posture
bone spurs, potbelly, reduced lung capacity, back and neck pain, headaches
Less obvious consequences of slouching are changes in:
mood, confidence, motivation and stress levels
List some benefits of stretching
increases flexibility
help decrease injuries
Increases range of motion
Increases blood flow to muscles
Improves posture
Great for stress relief
What is static stretching
Controlled movements in which you hold a position for a period of time. It is most often used post workout (holding the stretch for a period of time). 5 – 10 mins after exercising.
What is dynamic stretching
Active movements that stretch muscles to full range of motion without holding the position. Dynamic stretching is best used pre-workout (active movements where the stretch is not held. It is usually done for 5 – 10 mins before exercising, sports or athletics, before weight lifting or before cardiovascular exercise like running or swimming. Before a performance, it is safest to do dynamic stretching. You should not only stretch when you feel tight.
Describe the first position of the feet
form a V-shape with your feet by bringing your heels together to touch while keeping your toes away from each other.
Describe the second position of the feet
move one foot sideward. Your feet should be parallel to each other while maintaining a distance of about 12 inches.
Describe the third position of the feet
bring your foot’s heel to touch the arch of your other foot, with both feet turned outward.
Describe the fourth position of the feet
put your foot forward while the other foot still retains its position. The distance between the two feet should be about 12 inches.
Describe the fifth position of the feet
bring the heel of the foot in front to touch the toe of the other. Both feet should still be pointing outward.
Describe the first position of the arms
raise your arms into a circle in front of your chest. Your hands should be aligned in front of your chest with both arms slightly curved, and your fingertips should be at least 1 inch apart.
Describe the second position of the arms
open your arms sideward at shoulder level.
Describe the third position of the arms
One arm is raised above your head, while the other arm maintains the second position. The arm that was raised should be slightly curved as well.
Describe the fourth position of the arms
the arm in the second position would be raised forward in front of your chest again, similar to how it was in the first position. The arm that is lifted above your head will still maintain its position.
Describe the fifth position of the arms
both arms should be lifted above your head, slightly curving. The posture is similar to that of the first position but raised above the head instead.
What is spatial awareness
ability to be aware of objects in space and your body’s position in relation to them
What is proprioception
awareness of your body and limbs in your surroundings.
Give two examples of proprioception
being able to walk or kick without watching your feet or touch your nose with your eyes closed
What major thing can proprioception be affected by
Alcohol
Why is spatial awareness important for performers?
to ensure safety of yourself and others around you. Performers should be aware of the set, musical instruments, props and placement of other performers in the space. This could also be important for a person to position themselves in the correct space for lighting, or for symmetry in blocking, or for synchronization in group work.
List some acts the core supports
Everyday tasks, on-the-job tasks, housework, healthy back, sports, good posture, balance and stability
What is the core in the body
the central part of your body
What parts of the body does the core include
pelvis, lower back, hips and stomach
What is the main job of the core
to protect the spine
Why is proper use of the feet is important?
stability in movement
prevents injury
Why would dance teachers say “Use the floor”
a way to describe articulation of the feet in tendus towards proper technique
How does proper footwork help performers?
helps make performers appear lighter on their feet and would decreases noise from landing on the floor heavily
What are some foot strengthening exercises
Point and flex
Releves
Tendus
Circling the feet outward and inward
Plies (to increase flexibility of the ankle)
Theraband work
Stretching
What is co-ordination?
Coordination refers to the ability to use different parts of the body together in an effective manner. It involves communication between the mind and the body to make movement possible.
What does co-ordination rely on?
Coordination relies on fine motor skills (small muscles), gross motor skills (large muscles), hand eye skills.
What are some factors which affect co-ordination negatively?
alcoholism, stroke, spinal cord injuries etc.
Examples of coordination tests include:
Walking in a straight line
Finger to nose test
Tips to help improve coordination:
Slow it down
One part at a time
Visualize the movement
What is stage presence?
Stage presence refers to the ability of a performer to keep the audience’s attention.
Stage presence isn’t determined by — but by —-
It does not depend on the performer’s height, or beauty, but a combination of factors that makes an artist stand out and makes their performance memorable.
What to keep in mind while being on stage for great stage presence
Be prepared
Practice
Wardrobe/ costume helps. Make sure that you are comfortable, wear proper fitting clothing that will not have any accidents
Bring your audience into the presentation – what are some examples of how this is done? Maybe for a presentation, the speaker might ask for a volunteer, or make a joke
Use the entire stage
Embrace the power of stillness/ silence/ pause
Confidence
Be mindful of time
