Dance style > Dance posture There are three characteristic dance
postures. An upright posture with a straight back is used as an
expression of authority in the dance of chiefs and priests. In
the second posture the dancer inclines forward from the hips,
moving his attention and gestures toward the ground. In the
third posture the dancer holds the torso nearly parallel to the
ground, taking the body weight onto the balls of the feet. Many
riverine people use this posture. The downward stress toward the
earth does not necessarily imply that the dancer is heavy-
footed. In some cultures the dancers use the full foot in
stamping out the rhythms, while in others they may leap or
perform light foot movements.