Thread: Calling all floorworkers!

OK, so, floorwork has never really been my bag, baby, but I have a cute choreography to learn that includes a small section of floor. Said floor section includes lying on one's side, supported on one's elbow, undulating for a bit with the other arm raised straight up. This is *not* the one where you're lifting your entire body weight up on your arm and forming a sort of V to the floor - and just as well because I am not strong enough in the arms to carry my own weight.

Now, I can do this movement, and almost do it well, but I need to practice it to make it look really nice - and herein lies the problem. When I lie on the floor like that, the bone of my thigh and hip *grinds into the floor* and it *hurts*. Unlike many women I don't really have saddlebags - that particular spot is one of the leanest parts of me. So I'm finding it difficult to practice the movement. And I *want to do it*.

Ideas, floor work divas? How can I get my weight out of that hip without lifting my entire body off the floor?

Could you alter it a bit? I do a simmilar move on the floor but I'm supported by my knee nearest the floor with that knee bent back at about 40 degrees or more, then I'm supported on my hand nearest the floor, arm locked out. The top leg is extended out with a pointy toe touching the floor, so you're making a higher triangle than you would in your description. This position frees up the stomach and hips and will keep you off your hip. Just a thought. I've never seen anyone do what your describing...do you have a you tube video?

Best wishes!

KS

I don't. Diana Tarkhan does it on the DVD from which I plan to learn the choreo, and actually I have seen people do undulations like that before. The footage of Cory doing floor includes something very similar, although she moves her whole lower body including legs forward and back much more, so she is like a snake.

The position you describe requires about ten thousand times more upper body/arm strength. It could be that I have slightly hyperextensible elbows, it could be that I have long spindly arms and a heavy body, or it could just be that I'm horribly weak, but even though my ab strength is quite reasonable I can't hold myself up enough to do it like that - my arm starts to shake with the effort.

That's the problem with a lot of the floorwork moves, they can be a bit wearing on the old bones and joints.

I suspect that the floorwork section in the choreo isn't very long, so when you actually do it "for real" you won't be on the floor for long and the adrenaline will mask any pain. So in the meantime, strap something padded around yourself while you practice perhaps?

i think you are speaking of a cleo leg roll, be on elbow and knee, it is a camel on your side.the camel somewhat moves the top leg.
on another thread,(mover we should never do ) a floor section of mine is posted, i do this move.

Yes, that's the one, Cory. My hip hurrrrrrts! It grinds into the floooor! How do you make it less painful?

Hi Zumarrad,
I've done the move you're talking about, and in my experience, it's one of those things you have to grin and bear your way through. It is uncomfortable, but usually I don't do it for too long. I've found it's less painful if I can avoid wearing heavily coined or beaded costumes because then there's less to dig into my hip, and try to perform it on a rug.

My only other suggestion would be to bend your bottom knee and use that as a support along with your elbow. This will lift your hip off the floor, but distribute the weight a little more evenly between your upper and lower body. I just tried it on the floor of my office and it seemed to be an okay modification, but I'm not sure how it looks (luckily none of my coworkers happened to pass by and see me undulating on the floor..g.:).

For the sake of practice, can you put down two yoga mats? For performance you'd have to grin and bear it, but you'd be able to practice it with less pain...

Yeah, some kind of padding during practice. Back in the days when I was learning to do floorwork, people put pads on their knees during practice, even sometimes wearing knee pads under their costumes during a show. I rarely do floorwork now but used to do it with sword.

Just wanted to say that I have a bad hip, and I just have to support my weight with my arm on that side. It's not fun, but it works.

And I need to start working up to that again.

Zumarrad, I know that pain! My bone comes out that way too and I have had to abandon doing side plank moves as well. And that is on a yoga mat! So if there is no extra "padding" it hurts like a mofo. I avoid it at all costs and if there is any way you can adjust it a little, do it!

Originally Posted by s1dur1_sab1tu

Could you alter it a bit? I do a simmilar move on the floor but I'm supported by my knee nearest the floor with that knee bent back at about 40 degrees or more, then I'm supported on my hand nearest the floor, arm locked out. The top leg is extended out with a pointy toe touching the floor, so you're making a higher triangle than you would in your description. This position frees up the stomach and hips and will keep you off your hip. Just a thought. I've never seen anyone do what your describing...do you have a you tube video?

Best wishes!

KS

That's what I was going to suggest. A modified version of the modified side plank pose. In the modified version of the side plank pose, the bottom knee is bent but the leg is still straightened. See video. Yoga Kneeling Side Plank Pose | Expert Village Videos

I think that is a very ungraceful pose in the video. But you could create a similar to line to what you are trying to do by keeping the bottom knee bent, and the elbow on the floor. It requires a little bit of strength to lift the hip off the floor but not nearly as much as if you straighten the bottom arm.

you could always pick up a kids exercise mat- pretty cheap at walmart last I looked- but I would honestly recommend just coming up with a substitute move. Why are you intentionally hurting yourself? I love floorwork, do it whenever I get a chance, but I've only got one body & keeping it happy is more important than doing any particular move.

my hip isnt on the ground, i am on my elbow and knee...hmmm, my hip is elevateddoing the camel move,
i also do this on my hand, straight elbow, ...you are up higher.i do an 8 not a camel in this position.....then i slide on my hand down to my elbow, and do the move we first spoke of, the cleo leg roll

i think i do this all on another thread "moves you should never do" has a floor section of mine posted!

As far as I understand...this move can require strenght from shoulders/triceps/upper back and of course the core and quads if you dont and I think you should not put your weight on your hip that is on the floor.

Side planks and sun salutions done regularly will strengthen your muscles.

I think for most floorwork you do often or not, even if you dont do floorwork; yoga and stretches are very important for longevity and strenght for a strong dancer in general, even if you do this once in a while.

Thanks chaps!

On the other hand (no pun intended) you could start doing upper body work like push ups and so forth to get to the point where you can support yourself on one arm.

Seriously, that's a future goal but not right now. I've never ever been able to do push ups, not even when I was a lot lighter and younger. I also have lower back and hamstring issues that restrict what I can do, which is one reason I don't do a lot of floor type stuff anyway. Did I mention I'm also quite old?

*And*, this movement is not the plank-style one. I've done something like this before and I know my arm strength will increase through doing it (I do teach veil and I have fairly strong upper body work) *but* there is also a slight physiological component. Long skinny overextending lever is not optimal for holding up a heavy weight.

[QUOTE=zumarrad;415709] When I lie on the floor like that, the bone of my thigh and hip *grinds into the floor* and it *hurts*. Unlike many women I don't really have saddlebags - that particular spot is one of the leanest parts of me. So I'm finding it difficult to practice the movement. And I *want to do it*. QUOTE]

Not sure if this is the kind of answer your looking for but ive had close to same prob and here is what i do. When i do floorwork i chose big skirts (meaning full circle) and sometimes more then one layered. I take a piece of the skirt (that touches the floor) at the same side that the hip is where i will place my weight on. I tuck it in on the side of the belt. Now its like a little built in pillow and when im finished with the move i can just pull it out and continue with the rest of the floorwork (or keep it there if it fits the moves).

Hope i could be to some help ,r:;

Danzoz, your suggestion is probably why I had less problem doing this movement when we did it as part of a Tunisian style choreography - all that fabric at the hips! Thanks.