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"Kick off your Sunday shoes--*[Footloose](http://www.footloosemovie.com/en_us/)* dances its way into theaters today! With [Julianne Hough](/healthystars/2011/11/julianne-hough-secrets-slideshow#slide=1) in the lead, you can bet the dancing will be nothing short of amazing. But, as it turns out, you don't need to be a pro to follow in her footsteps.\\n\\n\\n\\n[#video: http://www.youtube.com/embed/gtjI6OHVk00](480x315)||||||\\n\\n\\n\\n\\\"*Footloose*, to me, was about real people dancing and celebrating dance, not professional dancers showing off their tricks,\\\" says the movie's choreographer, Jamal Sims, who has choreographed music videos for Usher and NSYNC as well as movies including the *Step Up* series and *17 Again*. \\\"I wanted the dance to come through the soul and the spirit of the film.\\\"\\n\\nSo, while the dancers did do strength training and [conditioning](/fitness/workouts/2010/06/tone-in-less-time-slideshow), Sims took the training out of the moves. \\\"I would just turn on the music and let everyone just dance,\\\" he says. \\\"If something looked good, we'd figure out how to make it look more normal.\\\"\\n\\n Take over the dance floor with a few simple tips from Sims:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\\"If your shoulders are down and your body position is saying 'I can't do this,' it could be a horrible experience,\\\" says the choreographer. \\\"But if you're looking like 'oh, I know I got this,' all of a sudden you become a [dancing dynamo](/fitness/workouts/2009/06/dance-your-way-slim-slideshow). You can sell so much just with a step-touch if you're confident in it.\\\"\\n\\n\\n\\nWith that in mind, don't go overboard with fancy toe-tapping you picked up from your latest favorite music video (we still regret attempting to learn [Beyonce](/magazine/blogs/selfystars/2011/06/work-out-with-beyonce)'s \\\"Single Ladies\\\" routine). Start with your step touch [To the beat, step out on your right foot, then bring your left foot in to touch your right. Then lift your left foot and bringing your right foot in to touch. Repeat!], then add a simple head whip. \\\"Hair can go a long way,\\\" says Sims. \\\"Just a little hair flip, down and up, and a wind of the hips and you're there.\\\"\\n\\n\\n\\nRemember -- if you want to avoid post-dance party aches, [stretch](/tips/try-a-triathlon/22-easy-recovery-recipe) with a basic hamstring and lower back stretch before you get into bed at night. \\\"The muscles tighten up, and that's the soreness you feel in the am.\\\"\\n\\n\\n\\nRelated Links:\\n\\n[Party Heels You Can Actually Dance In](/magazine/blogs/selfystars/2010/11/burlesque-inspired-heels-you-c)\\n\\n[Cheryl Burke's Top 5 Dancing Songs](/magazine/blogs/selfystars/2009/06/cheryl-burkes-top-5-dancing-so)\\n\\n[Dance Your Way To A Beyonce-Like Body](/magazine/blogs/selfystars/2010/08/sneak-peek-step-up-3d)\\n\\n\\n\\n--\\n\\n\\n\\nFor daily health tips follow SELF on [Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/selfmagazine)and [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/selfmagazine).   \\n  \\nGet SELF on your [iPad](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id421088847)!"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.self.com/story/footloose-choreographers-tips>