Anatomy for Dancers

Not only is anatomy the foundation for strength and flexibility training, but it can greatly aid your dance teaching! And we have the perfect online course for you. Anatomy for Dancers: The Secret to Becoming A Better Dance Teacher is a comprehensive self-paced online-course that teaches you about the human body & how it applies to dance. With practical cues, tips, & dance technique analysis, you will be one step closer to helping your students achieve their goals safely & effectively.

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BodyKinect: The Synergy of Science and Dance | Strength Training for Dancers | Dance Science | Los Angeles, USA

Every body is different. Every dancer is different. Why push a dancer to do something that hurts their body? Why not give them the tools they need to understand their body and take ownership of their dancing?

This may contain: a woman with her mouth open and the words how to tell your dancers the differences between a muscle and an interaction versus a stretch

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Contraction vs stretch!

Let’s talk about muscles today. Muscles in the body serve various purposes: 👉They can contract (squeeze or shorten) • 👉They can stretch (elongate or lengthen or “pull apart”) 👉They can stabilize (alignment & posture) ⭐A contracted muscle shortens and pulls the bones to create movement (ie: to move a body part) • ⭐A stretched muscle lengthens, allowing for greater range of motion ⭐A stabilized muscle maintains proper alignment and posture Movements require both a contraction and extension (and sometimes stabilization or assistance) Example 1: a grand battement front requires the hamstrings to extend/stretch/elongate as the hip flexors contract. Example 2: an arabesque requires the hip flexors to extend/stretch/elongate as the hamstrings contract. Follow @trainwithkendall f

a woman is doing yoga in front of a white wall

The Plumb Line

❓So … how do dancers get multiple pirouettes? They have good alignment with a plumb line! 🎯Everything needs to stack like kids’ building blocks. When something is out of place, the tower tumbles down. This same thing applies to dancers. The dancer plumb line includes …. 👉the earlobe 👉the tip of the shoulder 👉the ribcage 👉the greater trochanter 👉the outside of the knee 👉the outside of the ankle With all of these body parts in line, balance improves. When balance improves, more revolutio

This may contain: a woman sitting on the floor with a microphone in her hand and text that reads 3 planes of motion dancers, today we're doing a short anatomy lesson

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❓Do you know the three planes of dance? 👉Sagittal plane (longitudinal)= the wheel plane or front/back plane. Exercises in the sagittal plane include walking lunges. 👉Frontal plane (coronal) = side to side or lateral movement. Exercises in the frontal plane include monster walks. 👉Transverse plane (axial) = rotating on an axis. Exercises in the transverse plane include transverse lunges. ‼️It’s important to train in all three planes because it helps develop: ⭐Balance • ⭐Strength • ⭐Stability • ⭐Movement efficiency • ⭐Preparation for activity ⭐Improved performance Tag a teacher friend! Share with your students! Want to learn more about anatomy for dancers? I have an online course that’s perfect for dance teachers who are ready to enhance their teaching practice and hel

This may contain: a woman in white shirt and black pants standing next to wall with text that reads dancers here are 3 back muscles that you should know

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Understanding Anatomy

3 back muscles that every dancer should know 💯

❓Should dance teachers incorporate ANATOMY into their classes? YES! 💯 ❓Why don’t most dance teachers incorporate ANATOMY in dance class? They didn’t learn it! Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. But it can help you become an even better dance teacher. ❓Why is anatomy important for dance teachers? • 👉Because understanding the anatomy helps the dancer know HOW the body moves. • 👉Because dancers can TARGET specific muscles needed for specific skills and techniques. • 👉Because understanding anatomy helps the dancer move the body EFFICIENTLY. • 👉Because movement is actually EASIER when you can target the proper muscles. • 👉Because technique IMPROVES. • 👉Because moving efficiently and properly PREVENTS INJURIES. 👉Because you can clearly articulate the proper technique and