Dance Training Video Series
- Starting from the very beginning, our dance training series is for everyone of all levels: Couples, singles, and groups
- Our lesson series naturally progresses to develop your personal and partnership dancing.
- Each lesson has a Spotify playlist for you to practice with.
- Each exercise includes a video of Michael teaching you and a video of students, Mike and Diana, learning and sharing their exercise experience.
Take the time to learn and play with these exercises, allowing your body to develop your natural flow.
Introducing Flow
Getting Started
Michael defines the principles of Flow Fluently dance philosophy. Meet the dancers leading the progressive dance training video series.
Level 1 | Foundation Course
8 exercises to establish your relationship with each of the 5 players of dance, learning to dance freely, independently and in partnership.
The Four Elements
What Are The Elements?
All movement is simplified into four elements, the most basic building blocks. The Four Elements are Horizontal, Vertical, Tilt, and Left or Right Rotation.
Level 2 | Horizontal Movement
Horizontal is the 1st element of movement, moving intentionally through space in parallel relation to the earth.
Level 3 | Vertical & Tilt
Vertical is the 2nd element, moving up or down through space. Tilt is the 3rd element, rotating in space like a teeter-totter, your lower half goes in the opposite direction of your upper half.
Level 4 | Left or Right Rotation
Left/Right Rotation is the 4th and last element of movement. You rotate like a swivel, left or right.
Level 5 | Fluid Movement
To achieve fluidity, synergize all four elements into each move. Fluid movement feels best and is the most articulated. It is the pinnacle of movement.
Fundamentals To Flow
Level 6 | Boogie & Forward/Backward Moves
Boogie and Forward/Backward moves are the first two of 17 root moves.
Use Boogie to connect and dance in place. Use Forwards/Backwards to travel and explore.
Level 7 | Side Moves
The third root move, Side Moves, is moving sideways, as many moves as you’d like.
Level 8 | Spins
Spins, the fourth root move, are the biggest trick in the book. You quickly rotate your 360 degrees to feel the spin. Playing in Spin City is always a good time.
Level 9 | Breathe
To let your movement breathe is to slow time down, connect, play, and feel on a deeper level. Breathing is the fifth root move and your first introduction in timing change. Let’s take a deep breath and dive on in.
Level 10 | Dip
The dip is the sixth root move. It is the showboat move that is so loved by the masses. It can feel like a rollercoaster or as if you are floating on butterflies. Learning the dip changes elevates your dancing, big time. Lets dip.
Level 11 | Flexible Frame
From your spine, you can open and close, stretch and contract, both halves of your body, as if you have wings. This fluid structure creates a much deeper connection with your partner for more creative interactions. It is a game-changer.
Level 12 | Partner Positions
A partner position is the physical positioning between you and your partner. There are four defined positions, the first one being Facing. Let’s learn two more, Promenade and Outside Partner, and how to freely transition between them as you dance.
Mike & Diana Graduate
Mike and Diana completed their FUNdamentals Course and now have the skills to freely dance to all music for the rest of their lives. They share their journey.
Tricks
Level 13 | Handshake Holds
A hold is synonymous with how you connect with your partner. Generally, we do the same sided connection when we dance. The handshake holds are the introduction to cross-handed connection, presenting all-new, and entertaining, opportunities to play with.
Level 14 | Backstop
When you spin your partner, instead of naturally letting them finish their spin, you catch them in the back to slow them down. This is called a backstop but technically it’s more of a back catch as your movement’s inertia is never really stopped, instead, it is slowed down into a redirection.
Level 15 | Cuddle
Roll your partner in, hip to hip, find their eyes, and you are cuddling.
Level 16 | Sweetheart
Handshake your partner and then roll them in for a sweetheart cuddle.
Level 17 | Hammerlock
The hammerlock is just as it sounds, your arm twisted behind your back, straight out of a wrestling scene. Though when we hammerlock in dance we hammerlock with love love love.
Level 18 | See-You-Later
You put your partner in a nice cuddle or sweetheart position, and whoosh! See. Them. Later.
Level 19 | Tilt Dip
The tilt dip is slightly acrobatic as you wrap your partner in your arms and tilt them off their axis.
Level 20 | Around-The-World
The Around The World, aka Rag Doll, is the king of dips and presenter to all.
Structure to Flow
Level 21 | Dance Timing
Invite the music into your soul. Let it claim ownership of your body and dictate how you feel, how you move, and how you flow. You are a vessel to express the music.
Level 22 | 1-2-Whoosh
1-2-Whoosh timing is a fan favorite; it synergizes well with much music and is overall a feel-good timing to move to.
Level 23 | Side Moves (1-2-Whoosh)
Side Moves within the 1-2-Whoosh Timing is an outstanding groove step. You will find it as a wonderful default move, a move that works with much music and is easily led to dance with anyone. This is a move worth investing in. 1-2-Whoosh.
Level 24 | Forward/Backward Moves (1-2-Whoosh)
Forward and Backward Moves make it possible for you to groove anywhere, 1-2-Whoosh style.
Level 25 | Three Horizontal Directions (1-2-Whoosh)
Using all 3 directions with the 1-2-Whoosh timing allows you to navigate any dance situation and groove wherever you want to go.
Level 26 | Dip (1-2-Whoosh)
Can you dip within your 1-2-Whoosh timing? Why yes you can. Let’s explore.
Level 27 | Flexible Frame (1-2-Whoosh)
A fluid, yet predictable, structure is the pinnacle for your frame. Partnership interactions become more fluid and it feels really good.
Level 28 | Partner Positions (1-2-Whoosh)
Currently, you have been 1-2-Whoosh dancing only in Facing. Now let’s introduce both Promenade and Outside Partner into your 1-2-Whoosh language.
Level 29 | Box (1-2-Whoosh)
The Box is a brand new root move. It empowers you to really sweep the floor, move fluidly, and take up space. It is the first move where you start to feel like you are flying.
Level 30 | Progressives (1-2-Whoosh)
Progressives are made of half boxes continually traveling in the same direction, either forwards or backwards.
Level 31 | Rotating Box (1-2-Whoosh)
Rotating the box is what gives it that natural flow, that giddy feeling.
Level 32 | Rotating Progressives (1-2-Whoosh)
Rotating progressives gives them a more natural flow and that swoosh feeling.
Structured Tricks
Level 33 | Handshake Hold (1-2-Whoosh)
Handshake holds in your 1-2-Whoosh dancing are a playful addition. First, feel it out with a single handshake hold, then evolve into a double handshake hold.
Level 34 | Backstop (1-2-Whoosh)
Backstop in 1-2-Whoosh timing can be a nice ping-pong back and forth game with your partner.
Level 35 | Cuddle (1-2-Whoosh)
Remember cuddle is a variation of the Promenade position. You can either spin your partner into your arms or spin yourself into your partner’s arms.
Level 36 | Sweetheart (1-2-Whoosh)
Sweetheart is essentially Cuddle but from a single or double handshake hold. You can either spin your partner into your arms or spin yourself into your partner’s arms.
Level 37 | Tilt Dip (1-2-Whoosh)
Can you Tilt Dip within your 1-2-Whoosh timing? Yes, you can. You have two ways to Tilt Dip with 1-2-Whoosh.
Level 38 | See-You-Later (1-2-Whoosh)
Whoosh, See-You-Later. Time to explore how to see your partner later within your 1-2-Whoosh timing.
Level 39 | Hammerlock (1-2-Whoosh)
Here we go, time to hammerlock each other all while keeping your 1-2-Whoosh timing. Awww yeah.
Level 40 | Around-The-World Dip (1-2-Whoosh)
The ultimate showoff move, ATW, Around-The-World dip. Take a break from your 1-2-Whoosh dancing and bust out an ATW for the audience.
Fluid Timing
Level 41 | Timing Change
You have mastered every beat moves and the 1-2-Whoosh timing. Now you are taking ownership of your dance timing and changing it however you feel. You are responsible. You are in charge.
Level 42 | Musical Timing
Tuning your dance instrument, aka your body, to express the music exactly as you feel, in the moment, is completely liberating, and the most powerful skill you can have as a dancer.
Presence, Personality, & Style
Level 43 | Express Yourself
Who and what are you? Who and what can you become? What experiences and feelings can you discover? Use movement to answer these questions and discover your flow.
