Contemporary Dance Floor Work: Rolls and Spirals
Students learn basic contemporary dance floor work: getting down and up without impact, rolls, spirals, and hand supports, then link them into their own phrase. It builds body control, flow, and use of body weight.
How to play
- Spread yoga mats in rows about 3 feet apart. For 3 minutes, explore the floor lying down: waves from the pelvis, X-shape stretches, and curling into a ball.
- Teach spiraling down: turning on one foot, the knee and hip lower to the floor on one side without dropping. Practice for 4 minutes on both sides.
- Teach two rolls: the log roll with a long body and the diagonal back roll over the shoulder, never over the head or neck (4 minutes).
- Teach spiraling up and rising with hand support, pushing the floor away. Practice for 3 minutes to slow music.
- Each student composes a 4 eight-count phrase: go down, two floor moves, a roll, and come up. Rehearse individually for 6 minutes.
- In groups of 5, each member shows their phrase and the group picks one fragment from each person to dance together in canon (5 minutes).
Rules
- Never roll with weight on your head or the back of your neck.
- Slide down to the floor; don't drop onto your knees or elbows.
- Each student moves within their own mat, keeping the next one clear.
- Work barefoot or in grippy socks if the floor allows it.
Variations
Easier
Work only going down, one log roll, and coming up, without linking them.
Standard
Create a personal 4 eight-count phrase with a descent, floor work, a roll, and a rise.
Harder
Add a diagonal floor traveling move and a sudden change of speed.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: work from the wheelchair or seated on the floor with torso spirals and arm supports.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher signals each phase change with a clear visual cue.
- Lower fitness or joint discomfort: do only slow descents and rises with extra support points.
Learning goals
- Go down to and up from the floor with control and no impact.
- Perform safe rolls and spirals using body weight.
- Compose and link a floor-work dance phrase smoothly.
Equipment for a class of 25
- yoga mats: 25
- music
- speakers: 1
Teacher tip
Stress that the floor is a support, not something to fall onto. Demonstrate descents very slowly and repeat the image of "pouring" into the floor.
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