How to Do a Dance Lift

Co-authored by Max Rublyuk

Last Updated: May 10, 2022

This dance lift looks fantastic and is relatively easy to do! It uses three or four people, and is even possible with dancers of all the same size.

Steps

1
Prepare your team. You'll need the right team to achieve the lift:
- One dancer to be lifted- this dancer must have optimal core strength.^{[1]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Max Rublyuk
  Certified Professional Dance Instructor
  
  Expert Interview}
- Two dancers to do the lifting- they must contain some upper arm strength to provide a base, as well as core strength.
- One dancer in the back added to the lifting team to stabilize and help the person being lifted into the air. This girl is optional, but does make things easier.
2
Get into position.
- The lifted dancer should be in the front and middle, with all dancers facing the same direction. Two lifters should be to the side and with the optional one directly behind.
- The lifted dancer must stand with their feet in first position.
- The two lifters must stand with their feet shoulder width apart, slightly offset.
- The back lifter should be standing in second position.
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3
Ready the arms.
- The lifted dancer should have their arms out in a strong second position, pushing the shoulders down and back, to create the necessary opposition to sustain the lift.
- The side lifters should have one hand near the armpit, as if creating a shelf, and one hand comfortably between the wrist and elbow.
- If the optional lifter is there, their hands should be firmly gripping the lifted dancer’s waist.
4
Lift!
- The lift should come from the knees.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Max Rublyuk
  Certified Professional Dance Instructor
  
  Expert Interview} All participants should have set counts in their head for preparation, plié and lift.
- The lifted dancer must actively jump into the air as she is lifted, as her own momentum will help her get into the air. She must then hold her body tight and in the proper position.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Max Rublyuk
  Certified Professional Dance Instructor
  
  Expert Interview}
- The side lifters must come from underneath the arms and push up.
5
Hold the lift. The lift may last as long or as short as desired.
- Counts must be agreed upon so everyone is in sync with what they are supposed to be doing, be it walking or holding still.
- The lifted dancer must hold their arms and body incredibly tight and in the desired position.
- The lifters should hold their arms locked straight, as it helps make the most of their strength and makes the lift easier.
6
Get down.
- Finishing the lift must end in sync. One side cannot go down before the other.
- The lifted dancer must be ready to be put down.
- As always, agree upon counts to ensure everyone is on the same page.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Is it harder to lift or to be lifted?

Max Rublyuk
Certified Professional Dance Instructor
Max Rublyuk is a Certified Professional Dance Instructor and the Owner of The Monarch Ballroom. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in teaching International Standard Ballroom to people at all dance levels. Throughout his professional career, Max has won numerous dance competitions, including the Rising Star Professional Ballroom Championships at the Ohio Star Ball.

Max Rublyuk

Certified Professional Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

A lot of the movement is on the person being lifted. It is extremely important that this person maintains as perfect of a posture as possible to avoid injury and to help the lifter.

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Tips

For the lifted dancer, pressing the shoulder blades down and back is helpful. Think of making a “V” in the middle of your shoulders.

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For the lifted dancer, holding the core is incredibly important, not only in the front abdominals, but also from the back. Squeezing the buttocks is helpful for stability.

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For the lifters, do not squeeze with your fingers. Instead, hold them tight and strong and provide contact to stabilize the dancer in the air. Squeezing with fingers may cause bruising and it is also painful for the person being lifted.

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Warnings

Dropping the person being lifted may cause injury.

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Dancing, and its lift, are athletic, and come with an inherent risk of injury.

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Improper lifting, especially when using the back, may cause injury.

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