Embedded Files
Dancing can challenge your body in many ways.
Dancing can challenge your body in many ways.
Professional dancers need to be aware of how to keep their body safe and injury-free. This requires both increased awareness of their anatomy and physiology (where things are and how they work) as well as engaging in practices that support the extreme movements that dancing can sometimes require.
Professional dancers need to be aware of how to keep their body safe and injury-free. This requires both increased awareness of their anatomy and physiology (where things are and how they work) as well as engaging in practices that support the extreme movements that dancing can sometimes require.
In this unit, you will:
- learn facts about the basic anatomy and physiology of your musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones) and your cardiovascular system (heart and lungs).
- do mini lessons in common practices that dancers use to keep themselves fit, strong and healthy.
- think about the dance movements you do regularly, and what you can do to increase your awareness to prevent injury (SAFE DANCE).
At the end of this unit, you will complete a test comprised of multiple choice questions about the facts you have learnt and a short SAFE DANCE PLAN for your own dancing that consolidates and applies your learning.
The test is on Thursday of Week 3, in Term 2.
Body Charts for Muscles and Bones
Body Charts for Muscles and Bones
Muscles (Front view).pdfMuscles (Back view).pdfBones.pdfWhat other practices do you need to do to support your dancing body?
What other practices do you need to do to support your dancing body?
Pilates
Benefits include:
- improved flexibility
- increased muscle strength and tone, particularly of your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the ‘core muscles’ of your body)
- balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body
- enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs
- improved stabilisation of your spine
- improved posture
- improved physical coordination and balance
- prevention of musculoskeletal injuries
- increased lung capacity and circulation through deep breathing
- improved concentration
- increased body awareness
- stress management and relaxation
Strength Training
Benefits include:
- increased power for agility moves like jumping.
- increased strength in tendons and ligaments as well as muscles (which in turn increases stability and control).
- increase stamina and endurance for training and performance.
- low resistance and high repetitions is just as effective at building muscle strength as higher amounts of resistance.
- increased overall strength increases the dancer's capacity for variable choreography.
Yoga
Benefits include:
- Cardiovascular system (heart and arteries) – asanas are isometric, which means they rely on holding muscle tension for a short period of time. This improves cardiovascular fitness and circulation. Studies show that regular yoga practice may help normalise blood pressure.
- Musculoskeletal – joints are moved through their full range of motion, which encourages mobility and eases pressure. The gentle stretching releases muscle and joint tension, and stiffness, and also increases flexibility. Maintaining many of the asanas encourages strength and endurance. Weight-bearing asanas may help prevent osteoporosis, and may also help people already diagnosed with osteoporosis (if practiced with care under the supervision of a qualified yoga teacher). Long-term benefits include reduced back pain and improved posture.
Above information and more can be found at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pilates-and-yoga-health-benefits
These are some reliable and interesting sites for reading about common injuries for dancers.
These are some reliable and interesting sites for reading about common injuries for dancers.
Page updated
Report abuse