First Graham Technique Class.

I was absent for this lesson, it was an introduction to the Martha Graham Technique. I have focused on the key points to make these exercises good.



Warm Up- In this warm up, it is important have allignment when completing the stretches, this shows that you are correctly performing the exercise. Also, you need full extension of your arms, this helps with your allignment and benefits you more whilst doing the stretch. It is key to have your legs bent when needed as it could cause injury if they are not, you also are not performing correctly if they aren't bent.
3-4 minutes - It is important to run like a professional, that way you are exercises your body correctly and it looks much better! We need to learn to run like contemporary dancers!

Arm Exercises- In the arm exercises you need to make sure your arms are engaged the whole time and actually working! It is very important in this exercise to keep allignment within the arms. Arms need to stay strong!

Seated Contractions- In the seated contractions, extension in the spine is very important, this helps to show if you are performing the exercise right. Also, breathing is very important as it helps to complete the exercise, allignment is another important factor and stretching. This exercise is good for muscle tightening, muscle awareness and your spinal movements.

Foot Exercises- You need to make sure your feet have lots of energy in this exercise and ping off the floor! You need to make sure your feet stay engaged, and co-ordination is a must in this exercise! To get the foot off the floor it needs to be in stages, your foot needs to roll through the floor.

What is a contraction? How do you perform it?

Martha Graham used contractions to show grief within the body. A contraction is a movement that extends the spine,  a vertebrae at a time and extending from the bottom of the spine to the top.
when you perform a contraction it is strong scooped in stomach and relaxed shoulders, pulling back with the stomach muscles and curving to extend the spine on vertebra at a time. (pulling back as if you've been punched in the stomach)
Its a slow release movement.



THIS IS A PICTURE OF A MARTHA GRAHAM CONTRACTION BEING PERFORMED.

a level induction

I was not in for this lesson as i was on holiday, but this is the induction lesson which took place to introduce the as course to us.