Women's Floor Exercise

[Sailor Venus]

When women do their floor routine, what's that dance thing called? I heard its based on ballet unless I'm wrong. I'm interested in learning to dance. What could I do to start off learning it? Shall I look into ballet classes or only gymnastic coaches can teach it?

[Joshua Slocum]

There's no strict rules on the dance style of women's gymnastics. The code of points for Women's Artistic Gymnastics (which you can find http://www.fig-gymnastics.com/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,5187-188050-205272-nav-list,00.html]herecontains a section that allocates a difficulty value to various dance moves, but doesn't prescribe that the dance be performed according to any particular style. I do believe there is a large overlap between the skills performed in the women's floor exercise and what you might find in ballet, so a ballet teacher could probably teach you many of those moves.

[Graham Smith]

My sister in law is a former proffessional dancer and now Pilates trainer, she helped with choreography and training for the Australian Women's gymnastics team for the Sydney Olympics. I would suggest you look into Contemporary dance en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_dance . Contemporary dance is based heavily on the techniques of classical ballet, but has less of the rigidity of that form. Contemporary dance incorporates many different styles which allow more creative flow, which is what the dance elements in Women's gymnastics are really for, graceful linking of routine elements. You should be able to find Contemporary dance classes at most dance schools.

[AlexX]

There are two parts to women's dance that you could be referring to. The first part are the moves in the code of points like turns, jumps and leaps. I wouldn't say that they are "taken" from one specific discipline but they do have similarities to some sports such as dance (yes that is a sport), ballet and so on but they are just that, similarities. The second part is everything that gets filled in, that part is really just filler (can't really be deducted on) and it is up to the choreographer what type of dance they incorporate in between all the moves. Sometimes our head coach choreographs that (the filler part), sometimes me (just for laughs), sometimes somebody is brought in from the outside to choreograph (usually somebody that competed in dance).

[Blairbob]

You could just do ballet or some form of dance. I learned my share of it over the past 10 years. Mainly observation and some practice on my own besides with fellow coaches and a bit of natural grace and body awareness from martial arts.

Btw, they call it "Dance."

[Sailor Venus]

Thanks guys! Comtempory dance or ballet it is!

There are two parts to women's dance that you could be referring to. The first part are the moves in the code of points like turns, jumps and leaps. I wouldn't say that they are "taken" from one specific discipline but they do have similarities to some sports such as dance (yes that is a sport), ballet and so on but they are just that, similarities. The second part is everything that gets filled in, that part is really just filler (can't really be deducted on) and it is up to the choreographer what type of dance they incorporate in between all the moves. Sometimes our head coach choreographs that (the filler part), sometimes me (just for laughs), sometimes somebody is brought in from the outside to choreograph (usually somebody that competed in dance).

Could you give me examples what the 'filler' bit may be?

My sister in law is a former proffessional dancer and now Pilates trainer, she helped with choreography and training for the Australian Women's gymnastics team for the Sydney Olympics. I would suggest you look into Contemporary dance en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_dance . Contemporary dance is based heavily on the techniques of classical ballet, but has less of the rigidity of that form. Contemporary dance incorporates many different styles which allow more creative flow, which is what the dance elements in Women's gymnastics are really for, graceful linking of routine elements. You should be able to find Contemporary dance classes at most dance schools.

no way! your sister in law worked with the olympic squad, that is cool! Would you say balance beam got the dance moves from the same place too?

[AlexX]

Thanks guys! Comtempory dance or ballet it is!

Could you give me examples what the 'filler' bit may be?

Anything in a routine that's not a tumbling pass a jump, a turn or a leap. In the above routine the only parts that are not filler (besides tumbling) is the switch to straddle at 1:16 and the turn at 1:50. She is also not the prettiest dancer but like I said that part doesn't quite matter as, for the most part, you can not really be deducted for it.

[Sailor Venus]

Thanks Alex, that helped. I forgot to ask one more question. What about choice of music? From what I know, songs with voices/lyrics aren't allowed. Is there other restrictions?

[Blairbob]

Balance Beam is just floor on a beam 4" wide and 3 1/2 feet up. And not sprung.

You'll see a lot of filler. Kind of annoying at times but it does help with recovery between skills.

[AlexX]

Thanks Alex, that helped. I forgot to ask one more question. What about choice of music? From what I know, songs with voices/lyrics aren't allowed. Is there other restrictions?

No specific restrictions (besides no lyrics and a specific time frame) but there are things that are viewed as "better." For example you want to match the song to the gymnast's style. Some are powerful tumblers, others are pretty dancers a choreographer will try to accommodate those things with a fitting music choice. Like I said before you can't really be deducted for the filler part but a nicely presented routine will be more well liked by the judges.