Guest Author - Susan Kramer

Now that you've finished your warm-up stretches it's time to dance!

Take your time to begin moving with the music you've chosen. You can use any kind of music you like. Try to feel the rhythm and beat as you move.

As the music goes faster or slower, try to match your movements to it. Let your creative imagination guide your movements. You'll find that moving actually gives you more energy!

Some elements of movement are:
1. Rebound: The resulting bounce against the force of gravity. Energy focused downward creates an equal reaction upward or sideward. The rebound changes in proportion to the energy expended in the initial movement.

2. Suspension: Hanging onto a breath. Sustained movement controlled by the length of a breath.

3. Sustained Movement: Movement related to a constant beat rather than a breath.

4. Overtones: Sense of air still vibrating even though movement has ceased, giving the sense of moving in time.

5. Expending Energy: Sheer energy and intensity are different. Containment of energy creates intensity. Sharpness is achieved through the maximum use of energy in the attack of the movement. Motivation gives the movement more substance and quality.

6. Axial: While the body is rooted in one spot, segments of the body move independently of each other, such as backward, forward, sideward, in spirals, swinging.

7. Levels: Low on the floor or close to it; middle as in normal walking level; high as on tip toe, jumping, arms extended upward.

8. Directions: Around one's self, forward, backward, sideward, diagonally, in curves, circles, straight lines, geometric shapes.

9. Dynamics: Motion with purpose, motivation, feeling, energy.

Article and illustration - Susan Kramer

Links
Part 1 of 4, Dance Meditation - Introduction
Part 2 of 4, Dance Meditation - Stretching Exercises
Part 3 of 4, Dance Meditation - Dancing and Moving
Part 4 of 4, Dance Meditation - Meditation Time
Dance Meditation Lessons for Adults
Directory of Meditations for Children and Teens at BellaOnline

"Meditation for all Kids" Ebook or print book. How to teach sitting, walking, dance, relaxation, instant, music, running, swinging, biking and swimming meditations, plus a chapter of guided meditations on virtues, and a chapter of affirmations, inspirations and prayers. For tots to teens of all abilities. 100 pages.