Productive stretching

Me, as I write this post ;)

I'm not saying that you have to agree with the author's opinions, but this is an interesting article. When it comes to stretching there are probably as many different opinions as there are dancers. The important part is to listen to your own body and find out what you need to include. The video clips of the exercises are reason enough to invest time here ( all films are under 30 seconds). Especially for everyone with injuries and local pain.

Productive stretching for dancers

Quote

Today, just a quote from another article. This is important enough to stand here alone. You'll find the article here.

" Distorting the back, either by crunching the lumbar vertebrae and splaying the rib cage open or by hunching the shoulders forward and tucking the pelvis under, affects every other part of the body. Since the proper placement of the torso is the foundation of any movement, a dancer with a misaligned spine will develop other deadly technique sins. Problems can ripple all the way down to the extremities and upward to the neck and head. The core will be loose, and unable to provide essential support. A pelvis that either tips back or tucks under will limit the range of motion in the hips. Christine Spizzo's students at the North Carolina School of the Arts constantly work on their placement. The one directive I give in class more than any other she says, is tailbone down, navel muscles lifted. She emphasizes that the tailbone lengthens downward without tucking under, and the navel muscles lift upward, not inward. This opposition allows the external rotator muscles to be actively engaged at the top of the thigh. Spizzo uses the expression the Four T's - no tucking, tipping, tilting or twisting of the pelvis - as a reminder for the students. "

Read

This article is well worth reading now when the local council (kommune) is threatening budget cuts; but also because it tells you a lot about the skills and attributes dance training can give you that aren't just specific to dance. Not least of all, the last paragraph is a call to arms. It is unfortunate but these days it is important to stand up and fight for what you believe in, not just for yourself but also for those who come after you. Read.

NB: Dole = arbeidsledig (mottar dagpenger)

Heart.

From Ballet Foundation on Facebook.

      

Denis Rodkin

Cardio in ballet: During allegro work your heart rate will go up. It is important not to just stop moving or sit down right after you do a combination. Keep moving. Your heart does not do well going from 100 miles and hour to 0. Walk it out- but don't put the strain on your heart by stopping completely. 

Quote...........

" The practice mirror is to be used for the correction of faults, not for a love affair, and the figure you watch should not become your dearest friend"

                                                                                          Agnes de Mille, choreographer.

Caution

A lot have asked about the various "popping and cracking" noises we hear within our joints. Here is a cautionary article written by a dance physical therapist, which should give you something to think about. Do remember that some of the noises are innocent though. The article also includes a good video about engaging the stomach muscles whilst enabling efficient breathing. So even just clicking through to watch the video is a good idea. The article is here.

A good thought.....

This was a post from Ballet Foundation on Facebook, something worth being reminded of 

now and then :)

"

As an advanced dancer realize and accept you ARE a role model. The dancers beneath you 

in level hold you in high esteem. They watch what you do when you arrive, when you 

enter  the room, what you pull from your bag, what you eat, what you say, how you work, 

AND  most of all they watch how you respect or disrespect your teachers/choreographers/

directors. You may not want to be in this position- but you are. Be careful, be responsible. 

This is your time to be a light to the future generation- so be a bright one! "