Gloving Tips and Tutorial Resources |
Key Elements to Gloving
While it is not necessary to master all of these, emphasizing one or more of these characteristics can cultivate a good show.
- Musicality - the level at which the glove show is synchronized to the music
- Creativity - the unique nature of moves or sequences
- Flow - the overall smoothness of moves and transitions between them
- Technicality - the mastery of advanced moves with control and cleanliness
- Spacial Dimension - the use and understanding of three-dimensional space when performing moves
- Cues - observing what the audience likes or dislikes during a show
Concepts
A glover's style can be broken down into unique categories of concepts that characterize moves.
Finger Rolls
As the fundamental basis to many moves, the finger roll involves rolling one's fingers in and out to create a wave-like motion. This is a great starting point for beginners as it highlights finger dexterity and mastery of flow, while also creating a base for transitioning or creating future moves.
Whips, Flails, and Tunnels
Adapted from finger rolls, whips involve creating circular shapes through smooth wrist-work and finger movements. Flails, on the other hand, involves mostly wrist- and arm-work to create bigger circles. These moves create the illusion of infinite tunnels and circles that are known to produce awesome "facemelts."
Liquids
This style has been around for a while in the dancing community and involves moving hands, arms, or body in a wave-like "liquid" nature. Liquids are great for transitioning between moves.
King Tuts, Finger Tuts, and Wave Tuts
Tutting in general has been around for a while with the dawn of the hip-hop and funk-style community. It emphasizes body movements that work to create geometric shapes (i.e. boxes). Sounds simple, but the style has gained a lot of complexity as dancers animate a three-dimensional space with shapes involving arms and hands (king tuts), fingers (finger tuts), and also finger rolls that weave together finger tuts (wave tuts).
Digits and Dials
Digits refers generally to precise finger movements that emphasize finger dexterity.
Finger Rolls
As the fundamental basis to many moves, the finger roll involves rolling one's fingers in and out to create a wave-like motion. This is a great starting point for beginners as it highlights finger dexterity and mastery of flow, while also creating a base for transitioning or creating future moves.
Whips, Flails, and Tunnels
Adapted from finger rolls, whips involve creating circular shapes through smooth wrist-work and finger movements. Flails, on the other hand, involves mostly wrist- and arm-work to create bigger circles. These moves create the illusion of infinite tunnels and circles that are known to produce awesome "facemelts."
Liquids
This style has been around for a while in the dancing community and involves moving hands, arms, or body in a wave-like "liquid" nature. Liquids are great for transitioning between moves.
King Tuts, Finger Tuts, and Wave Tuts
Tutting in general has been around for a while with the dawn of the hip-hop and funk-style community. It emphasizes body movements that work to create geometric shapes (i.e. boxes). Sounds simple, but the style has gained a lot of complexity as dancers animate a three-dimensional space with shapes involving arms and hands (king tuts), fingers (finger tuts), and also finger rolls that weave together finger tuts (wave tuts).
Digits and Dials
Digits refers generally to precise finger movements that emphasize finger dexterity.