Basic Figure Units And Introduction Exercises In Training Of Latin-dancing Program

Introduction
Recently, Ballroom dancing belonged to the most popular activities of the physical and cultural development of the youth. Consequently it has developed into the competitive sport, which, as other sports, demands elaboration of scientific approaches to training process. Besides, there is a need to analyse already existing methods of sport dancers preparation. This is especially important for the Latin-dancing programme [1]. The technical preparation in sport dancing is characterized by a diversity of different and complex movements and necessity to accentuate their particular moments during dance performance. Thus, we consider that determination of the basic figure units and introduction exercises would improve the speed and efficacy of studying on the different stages of Latin American figures training [2]. The purpose of the research was to study a new method of sport dance training using basic figure units and introduction exercises in the Latin-dancing programme.

Methods
Thirty-two coaches and athletes of high levels were asked with the aim to determine possible ways to improve training methods. Seventy children (approximately equal number of boys and girls) 9-12 years old were randomly divided into Study and Control groups each included 35 persons. The quality of dancing was determined as expert estimations. The tests were done at the beginning and at the end of the experiment according to the proposed 12-grade scale. Statistical analysis has been done using Shapiro-Wilk W as test of normality; the means in different groups were compared by using Student’s t-test.

Results
A list of the program STUDENT to which various basic figure units and introduction exercises could be applied was determined [3]. They were different in terms of their structure and performance peculiarities. Usually, these figures are taught during the preliminary preparation stage and they serve as a base for subsequent studying of more complex figures. The list of rumba figures includes: Basic movement, Fan, Alemana, Progressive walks forward and backward, Hockey sticks, Cucarachas (pressure steps), and Spot turn. The list of jive figures includes: Fallaway rack, Change of places, Change of hands behind the back, and American spin. Basic figure units and introduction exercises and methodological approaches to their using were developed on the basis of classification of the dancing movements. The majority of the basic figure units has the hint in their name, which is known for a dancer and, thus, hastens the movement correction. The methods also include determination of the typical mistakes, their prevention and correction. From February to July 2003, the experimental testing of the proposed methods was pursued on the basis of two sport dancing clubs in Lviv. In the Study group, a new teaching strategy with the basic figure units and introduction exercises application was used. The Control group followed regular methods, which imply spontaneous teaching and multiple repetition using "trials and mistakes methods" and the athlete chooses the principal movement during multiple repetition.

Conclusions
The results indicated significant differences between Study and Control groups at the end of the experiment and oppositely no significant differences of the initial marks. The study shows that introduction of the basic figure units and introduction exercises into the sport training in Latin dancing program is really effective and could be proposed for practical coaches.

References
[1]. Laird W. (1997). Technique of Latin Dancing. Brighton, International Dance Publication.
[2]. Osadtsiv T (2001). Sport Dancing. Lviv, WUCC (in Ukrainian).
[3]. Dzhala T. (2003).Yong Sport Science of Ukraine, 7, 3, 95-99 (in Ukrainian).

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