Author: bettechamberlin

Buddha says “Wake Up!”

Posted on | by bettechamberlin | 1 Comment on Buddha says “Wake Up!”

Really?

When I first began ballroom training, I was obsessed with remembering steps, the shape of those steps and anticipating the intention of my teacher.  He most definitely lead and I was to follow.  It was all about sensing the lead and responding accordingly.  Yet, I worried about this and continually anticipated his intention, often with disconnected results….It was quite a job embracing being open to change wherever that took us.

I longed for the days when a choreographer would set a piece on a group of us in ABT.  We learned it, practiced it and knew EXACTLY what was coming next.  No surprises.

Later after suffering for a long time with this uncertain lead and follow, we started doing open routines and showcases.  The dances were choreographed and I knew EXACTLY what was coming next. This was comforting, but I soon learned that knowing the choreography does not mean that the audience/judges/viewers should see that you know what is coming next.

I learned that no matter whether you know what is coming next or not, being present in the moment is key.  The moment, well played and honored is luxurious and authentic and most certainly more enjoyable, for me and, I presume, those watching.  Our teachers speak about the importance of connection and when I allow myself to pay attention, without rushing to the next movement, the connection is seamless and organic.   This is what draws the audience in.

Being present means that you are opening up to all your senses:  sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste (should you have had that mint?)  Our kinesthetic or proprioceptive sense reminds us where our arm is relation to our body.

In my meditation classes I have learned that enlightenment comes at the heels of awakening to all our senses.  From where I am as a relatively new student of meditation,”Wake up” became, well, a wake up call that ease, enlightenment,calm, and that elusive peace was more about waking up than dropping back and shutting out.

I love it when new realizations align with older ones.  What I have learned from meditation has reinforced strengthened,  and enhanced  those skills.  F.M Alexander acquired buckets of these skills after observing himself for years with a 3-way mirror and discovering that he was unable to deflect his compressive habit in favor of staying in the moment.He discovered that there is a unique organization of the head/neck/spine that relates to all the parts of the body  His discovery is easily applied to our partner to partner connection – key to experiencing the beauty of seamless and uninterfered with movement.

F.M.’s discovery was such an important part of my understanding of movement.   I learned how WAKING UP to the moment and being aware of inefficient muscular habits netted many benefits.

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Sorting out Good Ballroom Posture…..

Posted on | by bettechamberlin | 3 Comments on Sorting out Good Ballroom Posture…..

When I was a professional ballet dancer with American Ballet Theater, people would come up to me and ask “are you a dancer? and then immediately “you have such good posture.”  I would reply “yes”, and “thank you”. I felt content that in fact I had good posture.  But that compliment was always tied with “are you a dancer?”

Hmm…

When I stopped dancing professionally and started to teach ballet, I continued to be that dancer that “had good posture”, yet I was unwittingly passing along the model of an over straightened  spine  to my students.  At the same time, I was experiencing intense neck and shoulder pain. My spine was braced and operating by habit, acting as if I was still a professional ballet dancer, and not responding to conventional treatments. My anxiety about this was building and became another daily challenge.

The reality is that most of us dancers have an idea about posture that involves way too much muscular tension.

And I was an excellent example of this.

It wasn’t until I started looking for both relief for my neck pain and a more organic way to look at posture that I bumped into F. M. Alexander’s discovery.  Rethinking the relationship between my head neck and spine was a revelation. I was soon pain free and decided to train as an Alexander Technique teacher.

Since that time, I have studied Ballroom dancing for the past 12 years, in particular American Rhythm and International Latin.  There is no question that had I not changed my impression of “good posture” I would not have been able to continue lessons all these years, win competitions and find the enjoyment  in moving.

Is there a special posture that we apply to ballroom versus walking down the street, waiting in line at the market, singing or playing a musical instrument?

We have all been taught by our awesome teachers that there is a specific angle of the head, or an element of body positioning that is required to evoke tango, salsa, waltz or rumba.

However, I have learned that good  posture is based on the architecture of our bodies, the support of the spine, muscles, ligaments and tendons  that help to move our amazing structure.  But HOW to coordinate this in an efficient manner is what I have learned over the years.

If you would like to book a lesson with me, either on zoom or if you are in the NY/NJ area at my studio in Montclair, NJ. Please use my contact form, tell me about yourself and leave your availability.  I will respond within 24 hours.

Happy Dancing!   If you know other dancers who may benefit from reading my blog, please forward.