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Horton Technique Basics: Modern Dance Class for Beginners

Horton Technique Basics: Modern Dance Class for Beginners — video by YAGP - Youth America Grand Prix Play · 44:36

Video by YAGP - Youth America Grand Prix on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Karine Plantadit, a former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer and Tony-nominated Broadway performer, teaches the basics of Horton modern dance technique: parallel position, roll downs, flat backs, footwork, the Egyptian walk, contractions, développés and isolations.

  • 45 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 11

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Parallel position: feet parallel and hips right over them, steady like mountain pose. 2:54
  2. Warm-up: head circles, a roll down, a deep squat with knees over ankles, then roll up. 4:06
  3. The warm-up phrase with music. 6:11
  4. Horton arm positions and how they differ from ballet port de bras. 10:46
  5. Flat backs: a table-top back at 90 degrees, shoulders down, head reaching forward. 11:59
  6. Flat back combination: roll, rise, then a back bend with the hips forward. 13:15
  7. Parallel footwork: forced arch and tendu to the front, side and back. 18:56
  8. Egyptian walk: arms bent at right angles, elbow opposite the forward hip. 24:32
  9. Contractions: curve the spine back, keeping the shoulders over the hips. 28:25
  10. Parallel développé with a flat back, to the front, side and back. 32:47
  11. Isolations: head, shoulders, torso and hips, then with music. 38:00

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Keep the feet parallel with the hips right over them
  • In a flat back keep a 90-degree angle with the shoulders down; don't pull back on your legs
  • If you can't reach the floor, bend the knees or put your hands down

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 2 takes load

  • Lower back takes loadflat backs, roll downs, flat-back back bends
  • Hips takes loadflat backs at 90 degrees, parallel développés
  • Neck moveshead circles and isolations
  • Shoulders movesHorton arm positions
  • Upper back movescontractions, upper-back curves, isolations
  • Knees movesdeep squat, pliés
  • Ankles & feet movesforced arch, rises
  • Rounding or twisting the back. With osteoporosis or a back problem, move smoothly and within comfort, and ask a physio which suit you.
  • Standing on one leg. Keep a chair or a wall within reach.

Easier option from the coach: Bend the knees or put the hands down if you can't reach the floor

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. This video was harder to rate from its talk and pictures, so treat it as a rougher guide. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by YAGP - Youth America Grand Prix; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety