How to Move the Upper Body in Jive Dancing

If you know how to move your upper body when you're jive dancing, you're able to keep to the rhythm of the music more easily. Having the right movement in your upper body as you dance also improves your overall style, allowing you to craft your own signature approach to jive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Realize that the jive dance embrace is open but is also casual. A follower rests her left hand on the leader's upper arm, while the leader lightly embraces the middle of the follower's back. The follower holds onto the leader's left hand with an overhand grasp at about waist level.

2. Keep your arms and shoulders relaxed, only using enough tension to keep a connection with your partner. In jive, the embrace can open up or shift so it's important to keep your upper body relaxed.

3. Maintain good posture. Your upper body should be upright without a hunch in your shoulders or an arch in your back. Though the fast moves of jive require that you dance mostly on the balls of your feet, this shouldn't distort your posture.

4. Lean slightly towards the direction you're stepping when you step to the side in a shuffle step. Your shoulders should lean into the step and their movement should echo your footwork.

5. Step back without moving your upper body from side to side. Instead, open your chest towards the foot you step back with. You can use your upper body to punctuate a step by sinking slightly into your hips.

6. Add music to practice the upper body movement. Focus on the rhythm of the music as you coordinate your upper body movement with your footwork.

Tips & Warnings

• While the upper body movement is simple for basic jive steps, advanced dancers who perform acrobatic moves need a great deal of strength and control to maintain proper upper body positions.

[how-to-girl]

on 10/7/2008 This is hard to picture without a video. You should make one :)