It is very common for dancers to concentrate on their legs and feet and forget the importance of their port de bras. Many times, when I have judged competitions or seen dancers in performance I have been impressed by their footwork and leg extensions, but disappointed in the lack of upper body movement and strong use of their arms. The main problems that occur are lack of release and rotation of the upper body, especially in the chest area, and weak use of the arms with a lack of shape to the movement. It is important for young dancers to understand that dance encompasses the entire body and is not complete unless every part is working together. There are a number of mental and physical exercises that I have found helpful in teaching dancers to become more aware of this area of their training.
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