Creepy Leads: Craning Neck Syndrome

Creepiness Factor #2: Craning Neck Syndrome

Again, bad posture can happen to good people. The “Craning Neck Syndrome” is one in particular that makes me anxious. It is especially noticeable in dances that stay in closed position for a good portion of the dance, like Balboa or, dare I say it, Blues. “Blues” is overrun with this particular problem.

Craning Neck Syndrome

• Problem: The head and neck come forward, shearing out of alignment with the spine, causing a excessive closeness of a leader’s mouth to a follower’s face, neck, or shoulder.
• Why this is creepy: Having someone with whom you’re barely familiar breathing down your neck is weird and uncomfortable. The posture can also pull the lips open, causing any halitosic breath* to leak into the follower’s facial vicinity. (*SIDE NOTE: Gum – always!)
• What causes Craning Neck Syndrome?: Several causes: Tilting your head down to look at your partner, her footwork, your feet, the dance floor, or anything below your line of vision. Also, a weak back curls your shoulders forward along with your neck. Some dancers have low flexibility in their neck, and need stretching exercises to rectify the situation.
• Solution: Practice holding your head in alignment over top of your spine and shoulders, and NOT looking down towards the dance floor while you dance. If you must look at the beautiful wood floors, glance down with your eyes, and try not to tilt your head. When you tilt your head, you are generally sending your head away from the center axis, which also makes you prone to be less balanced. Strengthen your neck by practicing “Peckin” or other neck isolation exercises, like doing headers in soccer.

Final thoughts: Bad posture/technique is not a “style.” Please watch yourself, dance with your friends, and if you’re not sure you’re a culprit, ask someone who cares about you. Although restructuring your body doesn’t happen overnight, it is something you can practice sitting in your car (keeping your shoulders back), walking, dancing, etc.

And please…don’t forget gum.