A r t i s t r y Artistry ... Ar
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and the musical theme. Many floor routines have a variety of innovative and original movements. The lack of fluidity in the transition from one movement to the next is an area which needs attention and detail work. These transitions must be trained with repetition just as a new skill is mastered. Check for “unnatural” arm movements with relation to direction changes. It is especially obvious in the corners before the tumbling pass. A focus change, isolated arm and hand movement can make the corners more
the lower half of the body working. For example, do the entire routine on the knees or just standing still. Practicing in front of a mirror will help give the gymnast confidence as well as an opportunity to practice expression with good alignment and technique. Finally the finishing touches come with expression all the here should way to the fingertips. Unfortunately, some of the girls wear the wrist not be a time in the guards which inhibit the flexion of floor routine where the wrist and therefore limit the full interesting without range of motion. The fingers must be compromising the gymnast does extended for maximum expression. the stamina or The use of the arms and hands concentration needed not know what along with strong focus can create a for the tumbling pass. position her arms masterpiece. Expressive hands can Following the arm be showcased in all styles: jazz, movements with are in or where her classical, character, folk, modern focus creates beautiful lines and focus should be. or in combination. If presentation is trained in the developmental years, it smooth connections. will become natural and the end result will be a beautiful floor performance. There should not be a time in the floor routine where the gymnast Once again, we need to reward those gymnasts who does not know what position her spend the extra time and encourage this attention to arms are in or where her focus detail. This will preserve the artistry in our sport and should be. This can be trained keep the audiences in love with our beautiful sport which and broken down by isolating we know as “artistic gymnastics.” just the arms and focus without
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Nancy Roach is a four-time Elite Choreographer of the Year and founder/former owner of Flips Gymnastics in Reno. Roach is available for choreography or fine tuning on beam and floor and can be reached at nancyroachdance@gmail.com or 775-721-1610.
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TECHNIQUE • APRIL 2011