This Month's Artistry Toolkit:

Breath

Breath transforms mechanical movement into flowing dance

I'll admit, breath was the last element of artistry I incorporated into my own dancing. I was so busy trying to make up for "lost time" since I was an older beginner that I didn't feel like I had time to "enjoy the process." After about four years I felt stuck thinking, "This isn't fun anymore, but somehow I don't want to be doing anything else." While all the pressure was coming purely from inside my own head, part of that reality was that it's honestly hard to have fun when you're holding your breath for an entire frappé combination.

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So eventually I started valuing breathing as part of my dance. It changed a lot. I gained stamina, I gained a sense of ease, I looked less red. And eventually I settled into seeing my own strengths as an artist. 

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But it started with breathing.

The Images

There are only 2 rules of breathing while you dance: 1) it must be rhythmic and regular (holding your breath is neither of these), and 2) the breath cycle is personal. While it is possible for a group of dancers to all inhale together on certain counts, planning every breath and every count only leads to discomfort.

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In the realm of not-rules, we have:

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Breath like ocean waves: Notice how your breath sounds a lot like the ocean? That consistency will help you release extra tension, help you stay focused during challenging movement, and might help your stamina.

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Fog the glass: Dancers have a fascinating tendency to forget to exhale while still remembering to inhale. This means that by the end of the combination you might be gasping for air while also certain that you were breathing the whole time. You were, you just have no more room in your lungs to add more air. So the next time you do the combination, pick one moment to really exhale--like you're fogging up the mirror with your breath.

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What's your favorite scent?: When you get to the most exciting part of your combination, imagine that you can smell your favorite scent. Our bodies naturally get bigger as we inhale, so it will give your big moment something extra special.

Technique Tip

While breathing is very personal, there are a few times when the same principles apply to everyone.​

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When you exhale, you naturally engage your core. This can be a game-changer for pirouettes. Try doing the same combination twice; the first time you do it, exhale on the preparation before your turn. The second time, inhale on the preparation. You will have a favorite.

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If you can't breathe normally during a stretch, back off a little. What's happening is your body's protective reflexes read breath-holding as a signal that something isn't safe, and they respond by tightening, not lengthening. Steady, unforced breathing tells your nervous system the opposite: that you're safe enough to let go a little further. Forcing a stretch into "it's hard to breathe" territory will not get you long-term flexibility gains.

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Don't coach breath with your youngest dancers. Little kids are excellent breathers. We don't need to correct anything. Even bringing attention to it can create a problem. So if you want to incorporate breathing as part of your classes with very young dancers, do it through fun sound effects and singalongs. That will give them the experience and memory of coordinating their breath and movement while still letting them be the genius breathers that they are.