MTV meets modern dance: taking the industry full circle, Technifunk returns aerobics to its dance roots

Have you had one of those days of teaching when you said to yourself, "If I do one more knee lift or heel jack, I am going to shoot myself!"? About three years ago, after teaching aerobics for more than 13 years, I decided I needed a change. I began formulating new moves that were more grounded, more rhytmic and more fluid than conventional aerobics movements. I created power moves and locomotion combinations, and called it Cardio Power Funk. Since then, I have incorporated more dance, funk and stylized aerobic moves into the routine to develop "Technifunk".

What Is Technifunk?

Technifunk is the marriage of disciplined dance technique (ballet, jazz, modern dance) and "MTV" funk, which is actually derived from traditional African dance. Dance technique gives the body balance and alignment, forcing movements to come from the center of the body. MTV funk is defined by upper body isolations and stylized accents that dominate the dance steps. In Technifunkm the two techniques merge and power leg movements are incorporated for an overall aerobic benefit. Internationally, instructors have been amazed with funk aerobics because it gives them new ideas for choreographing livelier routines.

One of the most interesting aspects of Technifunk is it takes the industry full circle, back to the roots aerobics sprang from--dance. The aerobic conditioning era started with dance-oriented exercise, which evolved to high-impact calisthenics and then all low-impact and high/low combos, joined by step and now funk. When the aerobics conditioning era began in the early 1970s, dance, and therefore music, were the driving forces behind aerobics. Programs like Judi Sheppard Missett's Jazzercise, which offered pre-choreographed routines to set music, surged to the forefront. The hardest part of the teaching process, choreographing, was done for us.

Then things became more complicated when music licensing companies, ASCAP and BMI, began to require instructors to pay a licensing fee for selling copyrighted music. Selling set routines and music became impractical, leaving instructors on their won to create choreography that was fun, challenging and non-repetitive. The result was a dawning of "Freestyle" (non-set routines) which gave aerobics a more calisthenic look.

High-impact "disco" aerobics also became popular nationwide. It remained popular for a few years, but the high injury rate among students created a need for low-impact movements in which one foot stayed on the floor. However, many felt if they weren't jumping to the rafters, they weren't getting a good workout. Eventually, high/low was born.

In the midst of the transition away from high-impact aerobics, the music industry began to promote rap music. With a slower beat and a heavy, driving bass sound, Donna Summer took a back seat to Michael Jackson and his new album, "Bad." As MTV featured more video productions with swaying, spinning dancers, instructors caught on to the excitement and energy--dance was put back in aerobics.

Philosophy of Funk

It has taken 15 years to come full circle, back to a form of movement that is creative. Technifunk was created in response to the need for dance choreography in aerobics. But beyond the movement, there is philosophy. Technifunk must be made accessible to anyone who is patient and persistent, regardless of his or her fitness level. Techincal movement is therefore combined with traditional aerobic moves and spiced up with MTV funk stylization.

Safety Guidelines

Don't forget funk is different than traditional aerobics. Movement is grounded and isolated in the upper body and hips. The following are some basic safety guidelines for practicing funk.

* Warm up 10 to 20 minutes and isolate neck, shoulders, upper torso, rib cage, ankles and calves.

* Practice turnouts, rotating the leg from the hip socket in order to protect the knees when performing lateral movement.

* During the first three five minutes of precardio, concentrate on movement that travels front and back to give ankles and knees more time to warm up.

* When marching, don't bend at the waist (sustained forward flexion). This creates too much stress on the low back.

* When teaching combinations and complicated movements, do not stop the movement in order to demonstrate. Have the class maintain an aerobic heart rate with marching or traveling as you demonstrate.

* Motivate your entire class to rehearse combinations, not just the front row.

Future of Funk

As the latest trend in the evolution of aerobics, funk should have a long life, considering the popularity of funk has even earned rap music a category in the Grammy awards. The fast-spreading popularity of Technifunk promises a future where dance can once again enliven the aerobic world!

Victoria Johnson is a continuing education provider for AFAA and has 13 videos selling nationwide, including "Technifunk 2000."

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