Day Two: Bones, Muscles, and our first Circuit Workout

This afternoon brought us a discussion on key bones and bony landmarks for dancers to know as well as a some information on key joints we use often and the muscles that facilitate their actions.  One of the more important parts of the body for a dancer to know is the spine.  Each section has particular movement ability and when realizing this we can see the true value in the "expressivity" that is added to create beautiful dance movements.  

For instance-- the thoracic spine does not actually allow the body to hyperextend.  These vertebrae are shaped in such a way that they become locked against one another; it's actually your cervical and lumbar spines that allow us to travel beyond 180 degrees as you would in a back port de bras at the ballet barre.  

Similarly, the large vertebrae of the lumbar spine cannot rotate.  When spiraling the spine we imagine a starting place at the base of our pelvis, but he curve begins much higher.  In order to see the beautiful expression of dancers, we incorporate our arms, our focus, and quality, to create the spiral.  If we just look at the spine itself, very little mobility may be used -- it's all the other things that make dance beautiful.  

This expressivity that we spend years and years training and developing is what separates dance from athletics and makes what we do an art form.  When you're in the gym lifting weights or on the treadmill for a run, it's about the mechanics and proper form and alignment are a must.  Onstage, it's about feeling and expression.  It's about sharing that with the audience.  It's about communication.