The Importance of Body Care and Awareness for Dancers
As a young dancer, I’ll admit I was pretty reckless with my body. I’d just hop into class without much preparation and go directly home without cooling down, even after the most demanding days. Looking back, I was just plain lucky I didn’t end up with more serious injuries. When I finally joined a professional company, I was grateful to have physical therapists on staff to help manage those aches and pains. But I soon learned that not every dancer has access to that level of support.
As dancers, our bodies are our instruments. We have to treat them with care and make sure they’re well-oiled and our muscles are properly maintained. Strength training and stretching are certainly essential parts of a dancer’s regimen, but the in-between work – the maintenance, the recovery – is just as important.
I’ve seen dancers use sheer willpower to push through pain that’s clearly signaling an underlying issue. That determination is admirable, but it can also lead us down a dangerous path. I learned that the hard way when I ruptured my Achilles tendon a few years ago while freelancing. That injury set me back a full year, and it was a wake-up call to start listening more closely to what my body was telling me.
In that difficult recovery process, I developed a newfound reverence and respect for my instrument – my body. I learned to differentiate between the pain of overuse versus the pain of an impending injury. I became more diligent about seeking out the right professionals – physical therapists, massage therapists, orthopedists – to help me get back on track. And I discovered a whole “dance bag of therapy assistants” that have been invaluable in keeping me healthy and performing at my best.
Dancers and Power Training
One of the more common requests I get from dancers is how to improve their power – things like jump height and sprinting speed. There’s a lot of misconception around how to actually achieve those performance gains.
I was recently working with a young volleyball player, helping her refine her conditioning program. She had a lot of plyometric exercises – you know, those explosive jumping and bounding movements – all strung together. The intention was to increase her jump height, but the way it was programmed would actually achieve a different goal.
You see, you can’t increase power or speed in a fatigued state. If you’re too tired to sprint your fastest, you’re not going to get any faster. The same principle applies to dancers. Doing repeated high-volume, high-fatigue plyometrics won’t actually make you jump higher. In fact, it could just lead to overtraining and increased injury risk.
Instead, the key is to structure your power training with intention and care. I like to start every session with some measured, progressively overloaded plyometric work – things like box jumps, hurdle hops, and continuous hurdle hops. Then I’ll move into strengthening the legs, focusing on proper form and technique to really engage those glutes and hamstrings. And I’ll weave in upper body and full-body strength work, always with an eye toward maintaining athletic posture and alignment.
The point is, training for maximum performance requires purpose, not just grinding it out. Dancers, in particular, need that training environment to feel like a respite – a place where they can push hard and be open about what’s working and what’s not, without the constant judgment and anxiety that can come with the territory.
The Differences Between Ballet and Contemporary Dance
While ballet and contemporary dance may seem worlds apart, they both demand incredible physical prowess from their practitioners. Understanding the unique demands of each style can help dancers – and the physical therapists who work with them – optimize their training and prevent injuries.
Ballet is rooted in centuries-old techniques and traditions, with a heavy emphasis on precision, flexibility, and strength. The training is highly systematic, with dancers gradually taking on more complex sequences and roles. Pointe work, a defining element of ballet, requires years of meticulous foot and ankle conditioning.
Contemporary dance, on the other hand, is characterized by its versatility and fusion of styles – drawing from modern, ballet, jazz, and even non-Western forms. The training is less standardized, placing a greater value on emotional expression, improvisation, and personal style. Contemporary dancers tend to work more on the floor, with a grounded, fluid quality to their movements.
These differences manifest in the types of skills and physical attributes each dance form requires. Ballet demands exceptional technical mastery, including pristine control, balance, and alignment. Contemporary dance emphasizes versatility, adaptability, and a deep sense of body awareness to execute its dynamic range of movements.
Regardless of the style, cross-training is crucial for dancers to build overall fitness, flexibility, and strength. Activities like Pilates, yoga, and targeted strength training can complement the dance-specific training and help reduce injury risk. Proper nutrition, adequate rest, and a holistic approach to recovery are also essential for dancers to maintain the high energy levels their craft demands.
The Role of Physical Therapy for Dancers
Dancers are elite athletes, subjecting their bodies to immense stress. That’s why injury prevention and performance enhancement are such critical components of their training regimen. And that’s where physical therapy (PT) comes in as a pivotal player.
For ballet dancers, PT focuses on injury prevention, rehabilitation from common issues like sprains and stress fractures, and enhancing the biomechanics of dance-specific movements. This might involve specialized techniques to improve joint mobility, muscle balance, and neuromuscular control.
Contemporary dancers, with their more diverse movement vocabulary, require a PT approach that addresses a broader range of physical demands – from floor work to aerial movements. The emphasis here is on fostering bodily awareness, enhancing movement efficiency, and preventing injuries associated with the style’s dynamic range.
Regardless of the dance discipline, physical therapists take a holistic view of the dancer’s body and health. This includes evaluating movement patterns, addressing muscle imbalances, and optimizing flexibility and strength. The goal is to help dancers pursue their passion with resilience and grace, no matter the style.
At the Musical Theater Center, we consider it a privilege to work closely with our dancers, keeping them dancing at their best. We know that physical therapy is an essential part of the dancer’s toolkit, offering customized solutions to mitigate injury risk and elevate performance.
So whether you’re a ballet dancer striving for technical perfection or a contemporary dancer exploring the boundaries of expression, incorporating physical therapy into your training regimen can be a game-changer. It’s the secret weapon that allows you to pursue your passion with the confidence that your body is prepared to handle the demands of the stage.
Conclusion: Caring for Your Instrument
As dancers, we pour our hearts and souls into our craft, pushing our bodies to the limits day in and day out. But if we want to have long, sustainable careers, we have to treat our instruments – our bodies – with the same level of care and attention.
That means being proactive about injury prevention, listening to the signals our bodies are sending us, and seeking out the right support systems to keep us healthy and performing at our best. It’s not always easy, but it’s an essential investment in our long-term success.
So whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, I encourage you to make body care and awareness a priority. Incorporate strength training, stretching, and cross-training into your regimen. Seek out physical therapists, massage therapists, and other movement specialists to help you optimize your performance and minimize your risk of injury.
And remember, your body is your instrument – treat it with the reverence and respect it deserves. With the right tools and mindset, you can keep that instrument finely tuned and ready to take on whatever the stage throws your way.
