PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

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Every accent has a natural decay time. If you have a fairly rapid series of accents, you don't have to worry about this. However, if you have a slower series of accents, or a few one-offs here and there, it does matter more.

When an accent is held too long, it looks like you are hanging there, being forced to wait for something, or, perhaps, have forgotten where you left that body part. The execution energy drains out of the accent, and all that is left is you holding a body position.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Michael Baxter, Santa Clara, California.

Try this example: We are doing an 8 count simple 3 step turn with a chest pop up. Our accent is on 5. (You with me so far?)

So, it is 1,2,3,4,pop,6,7,8. We'll do one to the right, then one to the left. Let's count the 1,2,3,4, as "Turn, a-round, pose," and the 5,6,7,8 will be our variable for this example.

I see three possibilities:

1. Turn, a-round, pose, pop, hold it, hold it, hold it; Turn, a-round, pose, pop, hold it, hold it, hold it. Or, play "statues" with the accent.
2. Turn, a-round, pose, pop, walk, walk, walk; Turn, a-round, pose, pop, walk, walk, walk. This fills the remaining counts
3. Turn, a-round, pose, pop, gradually relax upper body and arms across remaining three counts; Turn, a-round, pose, pop, gradually relax upper body and arms across remaining three counts. This releases the energy while preparing for the next move.

Try all these variations a few times. What looks best? #3 looks relaxed and in control. #2 might also look relaxed and in control if you naturally let your body relax and prepare for the next move while walking. If you didn't, you probably felt goofy going for a walk while holding the " chest pop" position. #1 looks like you are waiting and counting.

We are not robots. Our chests are not supposed to be getting stuck somewhere while/until something else happens. We are accenting with the accents of the music.

Aaaaaaaaaaand once again, my opinion and your mileage may vary. But try it?

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Michael Baxter, Santa Clara, California.

• The 70% Rule. How to use restraint to keep your audience captivated, by Saqra.
• Pop, Drop, & Lock Technique in Drum Solos. How to use accents in ways that enhance your dance, by Saqra.
• Belly Dancing to Fast Drum Solos. Musical interpretation for drum solos, by Saqra.

• Drum Solo Builds. How to build the energy in a drum solo, by Saqra.
• Drum Solo Accent Chains. How to build sequences of accents that make sense together, by Saqra.
• Holding Accents. Advice on what to do next after making an accent, by Saqra.