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Across the Floors

Across-the-Floors is a simple, yet extremely effective exercise to reinforce whatever element(s) of movement you wish to work on. It allows more intensive focus on a smaller number of performers by instructors, and it is more synchronously active than the perform-critique-perform-critique model of instruction.

To Begin

All performers gather on one side of the rehearsal space, or "floor." The instructor designates how many individuals should move across the floor at once. Then the designated number of performers move across the floor at the designated tempo, performing the designated task. The instructor will usually have the first set of performers begin to move across the floor, and then have the next set of performers begin the same movement 8 counts later.

Once all performers have reached the other side of the floor, the first set of performers begins to go back across the floor.

Concepts

This exercise can be done with metronome clicks or with recorded music. Winterguards often do across-the-floors to music of various types. The Boston Crusaders perform across-the-floors for pre-show movement warm up using Rage Techno music through an amplifier. Each pass across the floor is a different part of the exercise.

Exercise

	Each pass across the floor is a different part of the exercise.
	Pass 1 - Upper and lower body face straight forward. Move forward across the floor.
	Pass 2 - Upper body faces to the performer's left. Lower body faces forward . Move forward across the floor (Forward Slide to the Right).
	Pass 3 - Upper body faces to the performer's left. Lower body faces backward . Move backward across the floor (Backward Slide to the Right).
	Pass 4 - Upper and lower body face straight backward. Move backward across the floor.
	Pass 5 - Upper body faces to the performer's left. Lower body faces backward . Move backward across the floor (Backward Slide to the Left).
	Pass 6 - Upper body faces to the performer's right. Lower body faces forward. Move forward across the floor (Forward Slide to the Left).
	Pass 7 - Upper and lower body face straight forward. Move forward across the floor (Same as Pass 1).

Benefits

There are many benefits to using the across-the-floors exercise. Smaller numbers of performers at once. Everyone is active. Performers get the opportunity to observe their peers performing and being critiqued. Students generally perceive it as "fun." It is a time to perform for their peers and "show off" a little. It is also easier for instructors to gauge the overall performance of the group by isolating individuals during across-the-floors.

Circledrill.com Exercises

Click the following links for instructions for each exercise.

MOVEMENT EXERCISES

	Posture Definitions
	The Hindu
	Balance Exercise
	Figure 8 Exercise
	Stop-and-Go's
	Across the Floors
	Flip-Flop Exercise
	Ultimate Circle Drill

MUSIC EXERCISES

Lucky 13

Five-tones

Patterson Chorale

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