The Importance of Strength and Felixibility to a Dancer
Both flexibility and strength are needed to perform a dance to its
full potential, and a dancer should always be trying to improve their
own flexibility and strength. Flexibility involves increasing muscular
elasticity so that the range of mobility from a joint will increase.
Individual structural differences like the shape of the bone will
affect the range of motion/flexibility. Strength is the capacity to
exert a muscle contraction against resistance. Contraction is the
opposite muscle action to that of stretching. A strong body moves
freely, efficiently and above all safely. The aim is all round
strength, not the overdevelopment of certain muscle groups. As you can
see from these definitions, both of these elements are needed for a
good dancer. As Mary Wigman said on strength, 'The dynamic force of
movement wherein lies the life force of dance.'
Flexibility may come naturally to a dancer through inheritance, or
they may have to work on their flexibility, either way they could both
reach the same level of flexibility. There are however, other factors
which may influence flexibility, a few are, gender, age, body
temperature and training. Advantages of muscular flexibility are,
· Protects joints
· Increases the range of possible skills
· Improves the quality of action
· Maintains a healthy musculature
· Prevents injury.
All of the above things make a good dancer which is why flexibility is
a very important factor of dance.
Strength can also come naturally to a dancer but is easier to improve
than flexibility if it does not come naturally. As flexibilit...
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...ich will loosen the muscles
and joints which will increase the effectiveness of the programme on
the muscles. This warm-up should include using every muscle in the
body as it all needs to be warmed up. One way of increasing strength
is to devise a weight training programme. This would consist of using
a gym and the equipment there to increase the muscular strength. Most
weight training, is isotonic which means the muscle is shortening
(moving) to produce movement. Another way is to use, for example a
wall and use it to resist against. This would be isometric training,
which is where the muscle is resisting and increasing strength, but
not actually moving. The best way for a dancer to train, is to use a
bit of both of these methods. This is because a dancer needs all round
strength and using both of these would do that.
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and artistic movement inspired by African American artists, writers and musicians. The movement demanded recognition of overwhelming talents in the arts, literature, and music. For the first time in history, African Americans earned status, respect, and credibility in a world powered by white. Black musicians brought the stylings of Jazz and blues, while writers and artists took to depicting “black problems” and ways of life. The practice, previously unknown to traditional Anglo literature, quickly became highly regarded in worlds that transcended skin color. It was both a means to reach out and connect as a color-coded brotherhood, and provided insight into the life of black
For the dancer, music and choreography are paramount. The music guides the dancer, and the moves express the music. However, the dance has to start from somewhere.
Dancing – jumping and kicking with arms crossed without much knowledge or sequence to their movements
Did you know that a professional Ballet dancer is more physically fit than an Olympic
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Movement serves as a way for people to express themselves nonverbally. Much can be said based on how people move, especially how they move in a group. In this video, we observe student dance/movement therapists, and how they moved with one another in a group setting.
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Gray, Judith A., and Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Reston, VA. National Dance Association. American Alliance for Health. Dance Technology. Current Applications And Future Trends. n.p.: 1989. ERIC. Web. 17 May 2014.
I think to be a dancer you have to overcome the pain and working hard.Then, comes time for competition, and it is your time to go on stage to do your audition, you have been working for your whole life and then it is time to show the judges what you got. But, what did you have to do to get to where you are now?