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The Flip-Flop Exercise

The Flip-Flop Exercise is a synthesis of many of the other exercises on this site. Nearly all aspects of the fundamentals required for contemporary performing ensembles can be addressed and strengthened with this exercise.

The Flip-Flop exercise combines Across-the-Floors and Foot Placements (Figure 8 Exercise) with upper and lower body isolations.

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.

This 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.

Concepts

Performers must maintain a straight pathway through all upper and lower body orientation changes. Performers should maintain correct spacing at all times.

	The exercise works in the same manner as across the floors except that each pass involves EACH of the parts of the across-the-floors exercise.
	Counts 1-8 - Upper and lower body face straight forward. Move forward across the floor.

Counts 9-16 - On count 9, upper body faces to the performer's left. Lower body faces forward . Move forward across the floor (Forward Slide to the Right). On count 15 the left foot is placed on a 45-degree angle to the left. On count 16 the hips are rotated to 90-degrees, and the right foot is placed on a 45-degree angle. This leaves the performer facing to the left side of the floor with upper and lower body, in a "pigeon-toe" position with weight on the platforms of both feet. This is called "Place-Place" because you "Place" on 15 and "Place" on 16.

Exercise

	Counts 17-24 - On count 17, the hips continue to rotate 90-degrees to facing "backward." Upper body faces to the performer's right. Lower body faces backward . Move backward across the floor (Backward Slide to the Right).
	Counts 25-32 - On count 25, upper body faces straight in line with lower body. Upper and lower body face straight backward. Move backward across the floor.
	Counts 33-40 - On count 33, upper body faces to the performer's left. Lower body faces backward . Move backward across the floor (Backward Slide to the Left). On count 40, the right foot is placed on a 45-degree angle to the left (inward) to prepare for the hip rotation on counts 41-42.

Counts 41-48 - On count 41, the hips are rotated to 90-degrees, and the left foot is placed on a 45-degree angle (outward). This leaves the performer facing to the right side of the floor with upper and lower body, in an "open-toe" position with weight on the platforms of both feet. This is also called "Place-Place" because you "Place" on 40 and "Place" on 41. On count 42, upper body faces to the performer's right. Lower body faces forward. Move forward across the floor (Forward Slide to the Left).

	Counts 49-56 - On count 49, upper and lower body face straight forward. Move forward across the floor (Same as Pass 1).
	Counts 57-64 - Forward 8, Stop-and-Go.
	Counts 65-72 - Backward 8, Stop-and-Go.
	Counts 73-80 - Forward 8, Halt.

Goals

The goal of this exercise is ultimately to isolate upper body from lower body and vice versa. The flip-flop exercise also demands a lot from the performer physically and mentally. It is a long exercise (80 counts) and very exposed. The performer must prepare for each direction change, particularly the hip rotations that use the "Place-Place" footwork.

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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