Swivels

I, like many other follows, have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about swivels, mine and others alike. What makes a good swivel? I’ve combed through tons of photos on facebook and I was slightly surprised with what I found.
I originally thought that I wanted to make a symmetrical shape with my feet by having both toes face the same direction. However, after closer look at the shapes I was drawn to, I realized I prefer when one leg (the line from hip to knee to toe) has rotated farther than the other so the toes don’t face in the same direction. Check out some of the feet in the thumbnails below.

[nggallery id=11]

Not only did I find that foot placement relative to the other was important, but the weight changes were really what gave a swivel some snap! I strongly believe making full weight changes, from right foot to left foot, helps frame the shapes. Try this: stand up and twist your hips to the right and left. Before you change direction, step onto the foot of the opposite hip (if your left hip is forward, commit your weight onto your right foot). Try not to be split weight, but really move your weight from right to left. Don’t forget about those hips! Now, after trying that, click to open the thumbnails and check out the larger photos. What do you think? When I look at image 11 (of Frida dancing in a blue dress with Skye), I can see that commitment to the weight change and shape. Blahm!

As an FYI, these photos are in alphabetical order, not from favorite and down. I am also going to throw this out there; if you like it keep it, if not send it back. I added myself into this gallery because I am really happy with my swivels at this point. By no means am I done working on them, but I have been working on them for the past year and I like the direction I’ve headed.

So what do you think of these shapes? Do you like them? What else do you notice? What do you think about when you’re working on your swivels?

(Ooh, btw, I’ve done this project twice….as in, I had pictures of a bunch of different people but then that folder magically disappeared on my computer, so I had to find a bunch of them again. I have absolutely missed some great pictures of swivels. If you find some, please send me a link!)

[UPDATED:  March 3, 2011]

Something I’d like to also make note of is the shape of each follower’s body. I appreciate that each person looks like they are comfortable with their body shape and that their movement develops from it. For example, Giselle has a long, lean body and she makes her own unique set of shapes that I would describe as fierce and angular. Alice is shorter and curvier, and she plays that up. When I picture Alice dancing, I think of round, fluid, continuous movement that ebbs and flows.

I think it’s important to dance your body type, otherwise you’ll look slightly off. If you have long legs, work ’em! If you’ve got some booty, use it!

xoxo