I’ve been having a lot of lower-back pain lately. I have an arch in my lower back when I sleep, so I tried changing my mattress to see if it would make things better. Unfortunately, it didn’t help, and I continue to have discomfort. I attend a performing arts school during the day, and I’m […]
Every dancer has different dietary needs and can find, through trial and error, which foods help them perform their best during full days of dance. But younger dancers will need your help to pick foods that provide energy and focus. Here’s a handful of suggestions. For a burst of energy on the go, eat a […]
My 10-year-old daughter has a dance teacher who has the students stay in the frog position for a few minutes each class. My daughter finds it very uncomfortable. Does this position actually serve a purpose? Sometimes it is hard to know if uncomfortable is a good or bad sensation. Sometimes when you try something new, […]
Neuromuscular expert, Deborah Vogel breaks down understanding functional turnout. It’s essential for teachers to understand how hip structure influences a dancer’s ability to turn out. I see so many injuries caused by dancers who think turnout has to look a certain way. They try to create it instead of working it accurately from the hip. […]
I recently watched your YouTube video on exercises for the intrinsic muscles of the feet. I have a question about the doming exercise. When doing the movement, I find it impossible to keep my toes long. The same is true for when I point my feet. I have a hard time lengthening my toes, and […]
I have a student whose feet turn in naturally, even though her knees are straight and facing forward. I would like to know how best to help her handle this issue. Tibial torsion is when the lower leg bone has a spiral twist in it, turning the foot either outward (external tibial torsion) or inward […]
Spinal alignment is like turnout, says Michael Kelly Bruce, associate professor of dance at The Ohio State University. “It’s a mechanism, not an aesthetic.” But as with turnout, dancers’ visual goals often lead them to force their bodies into unnatural positions. “A healthier spine has to do with acknowledging the structural integrity of what’s there, […]