Lester Horton Technique

[BenKgosimore]

They make it look so easy, I was DEAD by the time we did the fortifications. But I'm a better mover now :):):)

[sudanyoung]

I recognize Ruthlyn Salomon from the Alvin Ailey company....

[beryelle]

beautiful, but TORTURE!



[MrRatherino]

got that right! brutal! I got as far as the runner's lunge-just keep bloody breathing!

[beautymnw]

Flatbacks arent hard at all they are very easy currently I am learning Dunham,Graham and Horton techniques and this is one of them

[Renman1990]

does anyone back hurt looking at this? I am glad we have discovered safer and healthier dance techniques lol.

[Tabita101]

@Renman1990 safer? lol, any dance technique is completely safe if you know how to do it properly with the right muscles. All you have to do for it to be safe is train even more.

[MsJBallerina]

How old is this video???

[EllyMcCormack]

0:43

[AUserSanJose]

Thanks for this Great Upload Helps alot..!! Just wanted to ask Is that ALL what happens in a Horton Class..???

I mean are there anymore workouts in Horton technique...??? I have never taken a Horton/Modern Class but i practice these workouts Everyday...!! So just wanted to to know if there are anymore workout coz these have helped alot..!! Please Respond Peace..!!

[wownouser]

Great workout. thanks!

[nerdathart222]

Im doing modern right now and when i first did this i was like never again, but the next day i was like uber sore and i realized omehgoodness stretching helps and now i loooveeee my lester horton haha:D

[thecurledfreckle]

hehe...

[tweetyboo66]

When I wad taking modern dance I hated this then when we stopped doing it i loved it lol

[tizivaris]

THRILLER MUSIC!!!!!!!AARGHHH



[divaluv321]

@ArmchairAccomplice i agree i take it now nd flatbacks, laterals, and some times lunges are so painful.! but its worth it

[ArmchairAccomplice]

I miss doing horton. But not flat-back swings.  I don't care how easy they make it look. Those are brutal. 5:05

[brwneyesaz]

Bouncing and pulling is not good because you can tear something. Especially, when doing these exercises on your own. Basic warmup in warmup clothing is good to use regardless of which technique that you use. 

[BrendaLi1]

looks like it was derived from yoga. Good technique!

[AtheistMohammed]

it looks like praying ritual to the Hip God, praise the Hip

[Uniquestylez01]

I have this on dvd. Love it!!! Horton technique is great!!!

[Dragon34th]

Black guy has a bigger behind LOL. Frame 1:06.

[KalbasaIvanovna]

@Dragon34th LOL

[mrzall3n]

i love horton!! i prefer his terchnique over martha graham anyday!!!. i really cant wait to start back dancing!

[candlecane]

@mrzall3n Please can you compare both techniques for me? Thanks :)

[dancinjdfam]

@candlecane Graham focuses on body opposition, shift of weight and more notably her use of contract and release. Horton developed a strength based technique redefining control, balance, and core strength.

[Leanansidhe3740]

We did these exercises in my modern dance class at college. They were very intense.

[squishy859]

is this a dance or a stretch?

[vnhsdance]

@squishy859 It's a technique

[Andysbat]

@vnhsdance it's technically a dynamic stretch.

[Jdolcine4]

Im going to try this...I love it!

[zzindorf]

Doris Humphrey, Erick Hawkins, Jose Limon

[Luna398]

this is the technique we use!!

[WorldDanceAllianceEU]

oh my ham strings!!

[carlosmendoza85]

Wow.. I am 25yo and I danced for a year... I reached a 6thgrade level in six months from cero... but I stopped for the last 5 years... I am taking private tutorings again... but now it seems my body is not responding the same way.... any tip?

[MegLuvzLife]

@carlosmendoza85 -When U do not use the same muscles the same way,for too long;you're muscles tend to atraphy(spelling?) and basically get out of shape.So even though u may have been dancing for so many years,after taking the break u mentioned,u probly had to start with a less intense level of dance? It's going to take time to get back to where u were when U left off at.Not sure if this helped u?

[teebeartheunicorn]

in my modern class, we're studying horton and we do this exact exercise.... our age group is 8-11 (im 11, and the oldest)

[msuzanneryan]

(Bill) Evans Technique is another.

[hung139]

what other styles are there? I have seen Lester Horton and Graham...is there any others like ballet?

[mogroovee]

@hung139 You might enjoy Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, also Jerome Robbins, Paul Taylor, Jose Limon, Twyla Tharp and of course Alvin Ailey who came from Lester Horton. Those are just the big names. There's so many others to check out : )

[hung139]

@mogroovee thank you very much haha :p aspiring dancer

[LIENEKEMOUS]

I love Horton!

[GuardBoy91]

lol I love doing this excercise in Modern Dance, except we use a way more catchy song

[quenquen411]

@heartgirl215 I'm positive your a crap dancer... to be such a petty person, it seems. These are real dancers.. I don't know what you do better, but I'm sure your missing the point lol... Peace

[baybeehanhan]

this technique hurtssssssss. no pain no gain :)

[techdancer96]

I can't walk by the end of class. loll. Icy hot + Horton = Life

[kjdancer001]

Lester Horton technique looks very clean, I like it ( :

[CynthiaPeacock]

I know very little about dance and I was researching the Horton technique because it was offered at my child's dance studio. I think it looks wonderful. Thanks for posting this. I think traditional ballet is beautiful, but I adore the movement of those strong proud bodies.  Frailty is highly over-rated.

[TheatreFanatic4eva]

I took a class of this for just a week and thought I'd be breaking bones lol I'm definitely stronger though :)

[LEDANCETHERAPY]

Hey it's Guillermo! sweet!:)

[Libera426]

That's so boring, but thanks  for posting this video, because now I know what's the horton technique. I'm not going to study it.

[BobbyJamesX]

@Libera426 wow, you really didn't get much from this video then because that's an amazing style of Modern to learn for your body and technique in general. Look at Ailey dancers... I'm sure you're not one :)

[lexiconlover]

oh, that little bit at the end explained what the technique is for. Very good of you to post this.

[lexiconlover]

what is this technique for?

[Winklepinklepuff]

Ok...totally not as easy as it looks.

[lovefam05]

@Winklepinklepuff u got that right. im in a dance company and i have to do all of that and it is gruling.

[Visionsla]

I was under scholarship to Lester in LA during the 50's at 10 years old. Studied with him for over two years. My sister went into the Dance Company.. We had Alvin, Jimmy Truitt, Carmen De Lavadade, Bella Lewitsky (as a teacher as well) Larry Maldanato, etc. I remember them all, most of all Lester. He was a strong force and cared for me. Lena Horne passed tonight, that brought me here as she sponsored my scholarship. The movement perfectly correct, going through it with this video, TY

[Lisaslivelylife]

I love this

[chocolatedancer]

This technique will have you sore in places you didn't know existed if you aren't that familiar with it....

[StoriEmmanuel]

Everyday it is!!!

[TrueZeal]

Ok... i will be doing this every day

[Bruninhaandrade28]

Excelente!!!

[heartgirl215]

@dncrchic4life how weird. i look this video up,and guess who comments on it? lol, it only kills cuz u dont do ballet. if u did ballet like me and nicole,u would not feel the stretching aand pain

[heartgirl215]

i do it better,cuz i have ballet technique. and yeah rite,u flexible?

[heartgirl215]

@dncrchic4life yes i can! ballroom dancers and ballet dancers,can do that. wtf do u dance? huh? lol, this is sorta like what jwoww said to sammi : if u wanna be watching me,instead of living and doing something ureself. then u got no life!

[BethBreeze]

This is a horrible demonstration of the Horton technique. The whole technique is based on "Musicality".

Whoever put this together knows nothing of doing the technique correctly. When done correctly and at the proper tempos, the Horton technique is amazing!

A second generation Horton dancer...

[breezabad]

Maybe you should put yours together and post so we'll know the correct way.

[BAUNetwork]

This video demonstration was co-authored by Marjorie B Perces A first generation Horton Dancer . Lester Horton tought her himself.

[couturesixfour]

isn't that dunham in the beginning. flat back and stuff...

[vanneswing]

what are this exercises for?

[nandostaff]

wonderfull !

[starcraftiskool]

why are they bouncing on their stretches?

[HateItOrLoveIt101]

i watched this in my dance class then we did the technique

[kennethhamilton]

...but change the music.

[micklefox]

Aaahhh! I LOVE this technique! We do it in class all the time!

[TheBannana05]

what is the source of this video?

[Reeda87]

ok im thinking about doing this on my own instead of going to class, i havent danced since hs, and im dyin to get back into the dance world, Horton isnt for suckers cause gosh im in pain lol but it hurts so good!

[TruPhan1]

I'd advise against that. Horton can be very dangerous when not done correctly. Always start under the supervision of a teacher who knows Horton technique unless you want to jack up your back.

[kennethhamilton]

I fully agree in that there should be some kind of warning against "trying this at home." But it looks amazing and I want to add this to my stretches.

[DanceProjectJunior]

yeah me too, and I cant find a teacher to teach me, and I really want to be good at this (even though it will probably never happen :/ )

[aliquuarum]

me gustaria  que pusieran mas

[melkwaters]

I love the Horton technique...It makes for fierce dancers...Look at Ailey after all!

[ashmidnight]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for putting this up! I have been looking for the technique because I never wrote it down all those years I was taking Horton!!!!!!!!! Now I can train again!!!!! THANK YOU!

[Uniquestylez01]

this video will really help you grow in the Horton Technnique!!!!

Your flexibility will increase in so many ways. Especially your torso...

[UseTheLoo]

This hurts my back soo badly.

[das04d]

the black dude's body is so hot!!! Ass, arms, legs. he got it all.

[DigitalDezinesCEO]

The black guy is former Ailey dancer, Keith Mcdaniel. He has since passed away.

[lilronderek]

Thank you for posting this it was very helpful for classes this semester.