Chest Circle
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
A circular motion of the ribcage through all four positions — forward, side, back, side — while hips and lower body stay still.
Intermediate focus
Now vary the size, speed, and direction. Small, tight chest circles for subtle styling. Large, expressive circles for musical moments. Clockwise and counterclockwise with equal control. Add chest circles to your basic step — do a slow chest circle over one full 8-count while stepping normally. This is where many dancers struggle because the upper body movement wants to interfere with the footwork.
Tips
- •Imagine your sternum is tracing a circle on a wall directly in front of you — keep it flat and round
- •Practice in front of a mirror from the side to check that your chest is actually achieving all four positions
- •Start with 8-count circles (2 counts per quadrant) and gradually speed up to 4-count and 2-count circles
Common mistakes
- •Making a square instead of a circle — the transitions between positions need to be smooth curves
- •Shoulders hiking up or rolling — only the ribcage should be moving
- •Hips following the chest — this means your core isn't stabilizing
- •Head wobbling — keep a stable head position as the chest moves around it
Practice drill
Stand with hands on hips. Do 8 chest circles clockwise at half speed, focusing on making each one rounder than the last. Then 8 counterclockwise. Now: 4 fast clockwise, 4 fast counterclockwise. Finally, alternate — 1 clockwise, 1 counterclockwise. This last pattern builds the control needed for figure-eights. Four minutes total.