Concepts of Floor Exercise*
by Gerald S. George, Ph.D.
January 10, 2012 |
Of all the events in artistic gymnastics, none allows the opportunity for self-expression more than Floor Exercise, for in this venue, the performer tells her unique story primarily through the medium of dance. Ever-changing, often unexpected, but always sequentially related movement patterns are tactically choreographed to music, and the gymnast strives to display the widest range of shapes and movement patterns over as much of the performing area as possible. Speed, force, shape, rhythm, flow, direction, level, range, and transition are some of the more common factors that must be carefully and strategically interwoven into this tapestry of artistic movement.
However, true success in Floor Exercise requires more than mere expressive dance--it requires "flight"! Complex acrobatic maneuvers designed to propel the body high into the air must also be liberally applied in the telling of "the rest of the story." For after all, the ability to execute elite-level tumbling maneuvers with absolute precision remains the axiomatic litmus test for championship performance.
Excuse me while I touch the sky!
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