Exercise 1 - Improvisation

Participant Orange focusing on her breathing at the beginning of an improvisation exercise. She places both hands on her stomach.

Participant Purple focusing on her breathing at the beginning of the improvisation exercise. She places one hand over her heart and on the top of her stomach.

This is an image of Participant Orange shifting her weight between her hand, knee and foot on the floor while performing an oblique stretch.

This is an image of Participant Orange moving through the space during an improvisation exercise.

This image shows Participant Orange changing levels by performing a tilted flat back, with one leg bent and the other straight.

This image shows the two pregnant participants dancing in close proximity during the improvisation exercise.

This image shows Participant Orange performing an upper back curve with an extension of the arms over the head. The rest of her spine and body remain neutral as they support the pregnant bump.

This image shows Participant Purple in a parallel plié in second position. Her upper body is performing a middle back curve over her pregnant bump with her head bent forward to complete the line of the spine. Her arms are reaching towards the camera.

The image shows the two pregnant participants increasing their dancing intensity as the improvisation exercise builds in energy. The two participants are visibly smiling.

This image shows the pregnant participants entering sub-maximal exertion levels. Participant Purple is performing a freeing, release-based movement with her arms flung behind her torso. Participant Orange performs a more intimate upper back curve with her arms lifted at the level of her head.

This image shows Participant Orange moving sideways across the space with her arms displayed wide either side of her body.

This image shows Participant Purple performing a pirouette with her left leg in a parallel retiré.

This image shows Participant Purple performing a lunge and hamstring stretch after the improvisation exercise to lower heart rate and facilitate pliability in her muscles in preparation for the rest of the class.

This image shows both pregnant participants performing a quadriceps stretch after the improvisation exercise.