what make a good dancer
Uploaded by fanny09 on Oct 04, 2015
WHAT MAKES A GOOD DANCER?
Technique and Training
A dictionary definition of dance technique might be – the way in which the dancer uses
basic physical movements in performance or the ability to use fundamental physical
movements effectively. In casual usage it has come to refer to a style of dance or
movement vocabulary. Names associated with the techniques are normally those of a
choreographer or teacher, e.g. Cunningham, Graham, etc.
Good technique is crucial to dance training in terms of keeping the dancer injury-free.
According to Stuart Wright, “The simple fact is that virtually all dance injuries result from
faulty technique … „Technical correction is the best means to prevention and treatment.”
Acquiring good technique is a lifetime process.
Analysis of Technical Requirements
The Plie
A movement central to most dance forms. It is one of the first
movements taught in a technique class, anatomically it is one of the
most difficult to execute.
Attention must be given to the proper alignment of the hip, knee and ankle joints. At the
beginning of a plie, the legs must be aligned so that a straight line could be drawn from the
hip socket through the knee and ankle joints and to the second toe. This means that the
knee should not protrude in front of the toes.
Any good technique will not only aim at technical expertise, but it will also aim to develop
several movement skills such as strength, stamina, flexibility, co-ordination, spatial and
rhythmical clarity.
Strength
Definition The ability of an individual to exert a muscular contraction or force against a
resistance i.e., unless you are strong you are unable to articulate your body
correctly. Therefore, muscular strength is best defined as the greatest amount
of force that muscles can produce in a single maximal effort. It is muscular
power that generates force.
There are two types of strength:
1. Static: no change in the length of the muscle, but the muscle still
functions. This is also known as Isometric Contraction, e.g. holding
a position like an arabesque in ballet.
2. Dynamic: the muscles change in length. They either lengthen, which is known as an
Eccentric Contraction, or they shorten, which is known as a Concentric
Contraction.
All types of contractions are used in a plie. Going into the plie the quadriceps lengthen
(Eccentric), in the momentary pause at the bottom of the plie the muscles stay the same
(Isometric), and the stretching out of the plie shortens the muscles (Concentric).
Muscle strength is of the utmost importance to any technique; it is needed for the execution
of the most fundamental movements and positioning. Therefore, knowing which muscles...