Floorwork – A dance of the senses

Floorwork is a dance style bursting with creativity and expressive power, making it ideally adaptable to any genre of music. Its fluidity and versatility allow dancers to explore a wide range of movements and emotions, making each performance unique and engaging.

As its popularity continues to grow, floorwork is sure to become a staple in the world of dance. This captivating style incorporates impactful moves and seductive turns, adding a sensual flair to the dance. It offers various levels of difficulty, requiring dancers to possess strength, speed, and precise body control.

Beginners can start with simple choreographies and gradually incorporate their own interpretations as they become more confident in their abilities. So if you’re interested in floorwork, this blog is for you!

General things about floorwork

Overview

What is floorwork? Floorwork, a rising trend in dance, is quickly gaining traction as it merges elements from Pole dance and Chairdance, attracting a growing number of enthusiasts. It’s a style of dance accessible to everyone, even those without prior experience, as it involves movements performed on the floor.

Drawing inspiration from ballet, breakdance, modern dance, and dance acrobatics, floorwork offers a dynamic and versatile approach to movement.

Pole dance enthusiastically embraces floorwork, incorporating it seamlessly to weave between poles or infuse routines with dramatic flair. Whether it’s graceful crawls, mesmerizing spins, or elegant leg extensions, these movements form visually stunning sequences that highlight the dancer’s strength, flexibility, and artistic prowess.

But floorwork isn’t just reserved for dazzling performances—it’s also a fundamental part of training. By engaging in floorwork exercises, dancers strengthen their core muscles, enhance flexibility, and deepen their mind-body connection.

This comprehensive overview underscores floorwork’s versatility as a language of movement that continually evolves and adapts. From Isadora Duncan’s nature-inspired choreography to the boundary-pushing explorations of contemporary luminaries like Akram Khan and Crystal Pite, floorwork remains at the forefront of innovation, captivating audiences with its expressive power.

In the mid-20th century, the rise of contemporary dance further propelled floorwork into the spotlight. Visionaries such as Merce Cunningham and Pina Bausch integrated floorwork as a central element of their choreography. Cunningham’s experimental use of chance procedures and Bausch’s fusion of dance with theater expanded the possibilities of floorwork, inviting dancers to explore a diverse range of shapes, dynamics, and textures while grounded on the floor.

Today, floorwork continues to evolve across a spectrum of dance styles, from classical ballet to urban hip-hop to avant-garde contemporary. In street dance circles, particularly in styles like breaking and krumping, floorwork serves as a cornerstone of battles and showcases, allowing dancers to showcase their athleticism, creativity, and unique style. Meanwhile, contemporary choreographers utilize floorwork to convey abstract concepts, delve into themes of identity and vulnerability, and push the boundaries of physicality and expression.

History

Floorwork, a mesmerizing dance style characterized by graceful movements performed on the ground, has a fascinating history that unfolds like a captivating tale. This narrative begins with Isadora Duncan, a trailblazing figure in modern dance during the early 1900s. Inspired by the beauty of nature, Duncan’s choreography embraced the earth, echoing the fluidity of waves and the elegance of clouds.

In the following decades, luminaries like Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey wove floorwork into the fabric of modern dance. Their movements delved deep into the human form, exploring its connection to the ground and the dynamic interplay of contraction and release. Picture dancers curling inward, then bursting forth with explosive energy, mirroring the ebb and flow of life itself.

As the 1960s and 70s unfolded, floorwork took on a rebellious spirit. Visionaries like Merce Cunningham and Trisha Brown pushed artistic boundaries, embracing improvisation and chance to challenge conventions. They reimagined the dancer’s relationship with space, defying expectations and embracing the beauty of the unexpected.

Today, floorwork remains a vital aspect of contemporary dance. Artists like Crystal Pite and Akram Khan seamlessly blend classical and modern influences, crafting narratives that unfold seamlessly on the ground. Floorwork continues to thrive in diverse dance forms, including street styles like breakdancing, where performers showcase intricate acrobatics with raw energy, painting the floor with their mesmerizing movements.

5 Beautiful floorwork moves

Corkscrew: Lie down on your back, lift up your legs, and start swirling your hips around in a circular motion. It’s like you’re drawing a circle with your hips while lying down.
Body Roll: Sit up straight, then slowly roll your body down to the floor, and smoothly roll back up again. It’s like you’re making a wave motion with your body, flowing down and then rising back up.
Snake Roll: Begin lying on your stomach, then push your chest off the ground and arch your back as you roll to one side. It’s as if you’re slithering like a snake, smoothly moving from one side to the other.
Leg Waves: Lie down on your back, lift your legs, and create a wave-like motion with them. Imagine you’re making gentle waves with your legs, flowing up and down smoothly.
Shoulder Stand: Start from a seated position, lean back, and lift your legs up, supporting your lower back with your hands. You’ll end up balancing on your shoulders with your legs pointing straight up.

These moves add a fun and dynamic element to your dance routine, showcasing your flexibility, strength, and coordination. Give them a try and get ready to impress!

Step-by-step floorwork dance tutorial

Beginner moves

The Crawl: Imagine you’re a cool crab making your way along the sand! Get down on your hands and knees, keeping your back straight and tummy tight. Now, lift your knees off the ground and start crawling forward and backward. Feel the smooth movement as you stay in control of your crawl.
The Body Roll: Picture yourself as a gentle wave rolling onto the shore! Lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet planted on the ground. Press your lower back into the floor and slowly start rolling your spine up, one bone at a time. Roll back down with the same smoothness, just like a gentle wave receding back into the ocean.
The Spin: Ready to twirl like a top? Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you. Lean back, place your hands on the floor for support, and give yourself a little push to start spinning. Use your tummy muscles to control your spin and make sure to come back down safely after your whirl.

Intermediate moves

The Leg Sweep: Start on your hands and knees, just like before. Now, stretch one leg out straight and sweep it across your body in a big, graceful arc. Feel the power in your movement as you bring it back to the starting position. Don’t forget to repeat on the other side for balance and symmetry!
The Dive Roll: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and squat down, placing your hands on the floor. Now, tuck your chin to your chest and roll forward, bringing your knees up to your chest as you land on your back. Roll back up smoothly, using your core muscles to control the movement. It’s like you’re rolling through the waves with ease!
The Bridge: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Push through your hands and feet to lift your hips high, creating a bridge with your body. Hold this position for a few seconds, feeling the burn in your muscles, before gently lowering back down to the starting position. This move is great for building strength and flexibility in your back and core muscles.

Advanced moves

The Shoulder Stand: Are you feeling strong and steady? Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you. Lean back, placing your hands firmly on the floor, and lift your legs straight up overhead. Find your balance and hold the position, just like a shining star in the sky!
The Split Roll: Ready to stretch and roll with the punches? Start by sitting with your legs extended out in front of you. Lean to one side, placing your hands on the floor for support. Lift your hips off the ground, roll onto your back, and gracefully split your legs—one reaching up and the other down—as you reach for your toes. Roll back to the starting position and switch sides for an even workout!

Remember, these moves are challenging, so it’s important to start slow and focus on doing them correctly rather than quickly. Listen to your body and take breaks when you need them to avoid overexertion. And above all, remember to have fun and enjoy the exciting journey of floorwork!

Summary

When you join a floorwork course, the first step is usually a warm-up session. This helps to loosen up your muscles and get your body ready for action. It’s a crucial part of the session and shouldn’t be overlooked. Before diving into the individual movements, it’s essential to stretch your entire body thoroughly. This helps to prevent injuries and ensures that you’re prepared for the challenges ahead.

As you progress through the course, you’ll start learning various dance elements and forms. These may include different techniques for moving gracefully on the floor, as well as mastering specific poses and transitions. Initially, each element is taught individually, allowing you to focus on perfecting one skill at a time. Once you feel comfortable with the basic forms, you’ll begin to incorporate them into sequences.

As you become more adept at floorwork, you’ll have the opportunity to express your creativity and individual style. This is where you can start to add your own ideas and interpretations into your performances. For example, soft floor movements alternate with acrobatic figures such as splits, shoulder stands, and backward rolls.

If you need a more detailed guide for floorwork, don’t miss out this YOUTUBE video!