By Sara Willcutt

Objective: to develop and understanding of center/core stability while dancing.

Using your core/abdominal muscles will help in controlling your movements, supporting your back, and with skills such as turning and jumping.

Exercise in Understanding: Play some fun music and move around to it. Try changing directions with your movements. Walk forward, walk backwards. Repeat walking while engaging your core muscles (similar to a sit up). Walk side to side, move more quickly, changing directions every few steps. Feel how your body is stabilized while using your core. See how much quicker you can move and change direction.

Core stabilization for posture: repeat the exercise above in front of a mirror or with a friend. Try to use your core to keep your back straight, your shoulders down, your hips neutral.