Arm Wave
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
A wave that travels through the arm from shoulder to fingertips (or reverse) — a styling element that extends body movement into the extremities.
Intermediate focus
Reverse the wave: fingertips to shoulder. Make the wave continuous (no pauses between joints). Speed it up until it looks like a smooth, fluid ripple. Practice both arms. Now add arm waves to your dancing: during an open position moment, extend a wave through your free arm. During a body wave, let the wave continue through your arm at the top. Work on making the arm wave feel like a natural extension of your body movement, not a separate trick.
Tips
- •Practice in front of a mirror, watching the wave travel joint by joint. If any joint is getting skipped, practice that transition specifically
- •Think of your arm as a garden hose being flicked — the whip travels from the handle to the end
- •Practice arm waves while watching TV — the more automatic the movement, the more naturally it appears in your dancing
Common mistakes
- •Moving the whole arm at once instead of sequentially — the wave must pass through each joint separately
- •Rigid, straight-arm waves — keep a natural bend in the elbow and relaxation in the wrist
- •Over-using arm waves — they're accents and styling, not constant movement
- •Forgetting the hand and fingers — the wave should travel all the way to the fingertips with intention
Practice drill
Right arm extended to the side. Wave from shoulder to fingertips in 4 counts. Wave from fingertips to shoulder in 4 counts. Repeat 8 times. Switch to left arm. Then: simultaneous waves, both arms, shoulder to fingertips. Then reverse. Then alternate: right arm waves to fingertips while left arm waves to shoulder. This is hard — it's like patting your head and rubbing your stomach. Five minutes total.