Going up
I was very excited about today’s class but that all changed when within the first ten minutes we were told that we were starting today’s class with an abdominal workout. After the moans and grounds of the class had drifted away it become apparent to me that there was a point to doing this and that is that when lifting or holding weight you have to have a strange core. After our “delicious” abdominal workout we were asked to pear up with the person closest person to us. Mine being Leanne. Partner A would move around stretching out as they do this partner B would then follow them and rub over any open surfaces. We then progressed this by using any part of our body’s to do this. We then changed rolls. I feel like helped open my skin up to touch and open up part of my body’s like my chest that are normally quite closed.
We then changed partners using this time to work with everyone in the class. Partner A would make a table top position. Partner B would then lay back to back on partner A releasing the head and keeping both feet on the floor. Partner B would then release one leg so that it can slide under partner A, partner b can then slide forward onto a table top position as partner A stays with partner B by rolling onto them. This can then be repeated so that you make a square. I enjoyed doing this and it really made me think about keeping the connection between the cores of both partners.
We then moved on to coming off the floor. Starting holding opposite hands with your partner we would counter balance leaning out then slowly one partner would end up seated on the floor. The standing dancer would then spin and release there partner waiting for the spin to end then moving in front of their partner reached out hand. Then with a joint effort from both partners the seated partner will jump into the standing partner’s arms. This is done by the standing partner pulling up with their arms at the same time as the pushing off the ground. I didn’t really like doing this it scared me to be on both side when I was the catching partner I was scared that I wasn’t going to catch them and when I was the seated partner I was too scared to jump ending with me just jumping up like a pole in even close to my partner.
After this we did a very common lift the side lean. Simply standing next to each other one partner puts their arm around the shoulders of their partner and the other around their partner’s waist. The partner with their arm around the waist then leans to slide lifting the leg closest to their partner which helps to lift them. This was a very and quick and I enjoyed doing it but even with this small lift off the ground I started to fell a like bit of nerves and I believe that this was because I didn’t know if my partner had a strong base or not I noticed this because I am happy to give my weight when my partner is in a table top position of has a strong shape.
After this we progressed our lifting. We moved on to what I would call a wedding carry lift starting with the partner being lifted placing their leg into the hinged arm of their partner and placing their arm around their shoulders then pushing off the floor and holding themselves in a bridal carry shape as the lifting partner spins and then places them back down. This was then progressed by the partner being lifted instead of creating the bridal shape would created a plank this was done by trying to connect their pelvis to their partners chest. This was something I found hard but I found that the more I tried it the higher my pelvis got which made it easier for the person lifting me.
The reading really helped me when thinking of centre of gravity as I always thought about my centre of gravity being in my core it was not until I read this that I know understand that your centre of gravity moves as you do and can even be outside your body.
Woodhull A. Center of Gravity. Contact Quarterly/ Contact Improvisation Sourcebook I Vol. 4. Pp. 43-48