Flamenca Got Back! Or Another Way to Get Stronger Flamenco Footwork

I had to take a picture of my butt in the studio I saw my new shelf.

Yes, I’m flaunting my back side. Saying that I had “junk in my trunk” was never a personal description of mine. My description has always been more like “stacked,” you know, I have a “rack.”

But that has all changed! How, you ask, did I get so junked up? From kettle bells! I’ve been continuously working out with them for the past year because of my husband. He’s an avid swinger (kettle bells that is.) I started off only being able to swing a little 18lb. bell and now I’ve graduated to using my husband’s 44lb. bell. Holy moly!

My workout gains are impressive and my butt looks great, but how does this relate to flamenco? This is a flamenco blog after all. I feel tremendous gains in my footwork. I feel even more “sentada” while doing footwork, which means that I feel more grounded and I don’t feel the quads doing the work. I remember my teacher would always say to feel the footwork in your glutes, but I had no idea what she was talking about. I eventually focused on the core to maintain stability and to allow the footwork to power through. BUT I GET IT NOW! Now that I have a kettle bell bubble butt ASS!

So, besides all the other stuff I recommend to become a better dancer, now I say do some sort of resistance training for your BUTT. What kind you ask? Use kettle bells, dumbbells, barbells, body weight, your kids or pets for squats, dead lifts and lunges.

Here are some sources to get you started:

I use kettle bells to Lauren Brooks DVDs. I’m not a gym person and I prefer DVDs.

Brett Contreras has a great glute book called Strong Curves for you that like going to the gym.

Nia Shanks has great exercises using your bodyweight for resistance.

Now is your chance to be a part of this song!

🙂 Rina