National Qualifications Online

Higher Dance Practice - Contemporary

Posture, alignment and centre

A video still of a dancer demonstrating correct posture.

Posture, alignment and centre

View this demonstration which highlights the importance of good posture, alignment and a strong centre.

Floor work

A video still of a dancer demonstrating a contraction while seated.

Contractions

Watch a demonstration of accurate technique for a seated contraction.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a high release while seated.

High release

View a demonstration of accurate alignment and technique for performing a high release.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a spiral move while seated.

Spirals

Watch a demonstration of accurate alignment and technique for performing a spiral.
A video still of a dancer combining contraction with high release.

Combining contraction, high release and spirals

View a dancer perform a combination of contractions, high release and spirals into a complete floor exercise.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a side fall.

Side falls and recovery

Watch a dancer perform a variety of side-falls and recoveries with a slow demonstration of the technique.

Centre work

A video still of a dancer demonstrating correctly centred posture.

Centre work

Watch a demonstration of correct posture for centre work.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a turned-out plie.

Pliés

View a dancer exemplifying accurate techniques for parallel and turned-out pliés.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a tendue with turned-out plie.

Tendus with pliés

Watch a demonstration of the correct technique for tendus with parallel and turned-out pliés.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a parallel plie in contraction.

Parallel pliés in contraction

Watch a demonstration of the correct technique for performing a parallel plié in contraction.
A video still of a dancer combining turned-out plies with tendues.

Combining pliés with tendus in contraction

See a demonstration combining parallel and turned-out pliés with tendus and parallel pliés in contraction into a complete centre work exercise.

Movement and travelling

A video still of a dancer demonstrating the technique for travelling through space.

Travelling through space

View a demonstration of the principles of travelling through space by using 'controlled freedom' techniques.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating a triplet.

Triplets

See a demonstration of accurate technique for performing triplets.
A video still of a dancer running across a dance studio.

Runs

Watch a demonstration of runs which highlights their usefulness for changing direction and transitioning between moves.
A video still of a dancer demonstrating the correct method for a leap.

Leaps

Watch this demonstration to see the difference between accurate and inaccurate techniques for performing leaps.