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title: SBAS – Segment Based Alignment System
taxonomy:
category: [physics, alignment, turn, cbm, cbmp]
tag: [draft]
author: Ian Nandhra
created: 2025-06-30
visible: false
published: true
# source_image: /images/example.png
# source_code: /scripts/example.py
---
# SBAS - Segment Based Alignment System
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# SBAS - Segment Based Alignment System
Let’s be honest - trying to describe what part of the body is pointing where in dance can get confusing fast. Especially when your feet are pointing one way, your frame another, and your travel vector a third. 😵💫
This problem has been addressed by the sylabus manuals '[Alignments](/images/New-Alignments-Chart.png)' which didn't address the issue of the direction of your body segments (torso, head, feet etc). Over the decades it's become more and more obvious that a system was needed to help dancers understand where their Frame, Head, Hips etc should be facing.
Such issues are **very apparant** in CBM, CBMP, Promenade Position, Corte, Outside Partner and more.
### Take this scenario:
You’re in **Closed Position**, **facing Line of Dance (FLOD)** - that means your **feet are pointing down the room**.
Easy, right?
But now imagine you’re in **Promenade Position (PP)**. Things change:
- Lets say your **feet** point Diagonal Wall (DW),
- Your **frame** (torso) could be turned to the Wall,
- And your **travel** might be heading straight down LOD again (and yes, it feels like sideways because it is)!
So how do we describe all of that without turning into spaghetti?
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## 🍞 Enter: SBAS
Don’t let the acronym scare you - SBAS is just shorthand for:
> **Segment Based Alignment System**
It’s a **simple way to describe what direction your hips, torso, or head are facing relative to another body segment**. Not sure where your feet are?
Just look down! 👣
---(Relative to Feet)
## 🧭 Example: Promenade Position (Leader)
Let’s say the Leader’s **feet** are pointing DW.
Then:
| Body Part | Angle | Relative to |
|-----------|-------|---------------|
| **Head** | -10° | Sternum |
| **Frame** | +45° | Standing foot |
## 👠 Example: Promenade Position (Follower)
Follower’s **feet** are pointing DC.
Then:
| Body Part | Angle | Relative to |
|-----------|-------|---------------|
| **Head** | +30° | Sternum |
| **Frame** | 0° | Standing foot |
## Try it!! ##
Suddenly you have an angle relative to something else that you can use. No more wondering WTH because the Manual didn't give the information.
> **Note that positive angles are to the left and positive numbers are to the right'**
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SBAS makes it super easy to define what's going on - no need to know where you're traveling or even what step you’re on. Just look at another body segment and measure the angle from there.
This is especially important given the more realistic '[Alignment Chart](/images/New-Alignments-Chart.png)'
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