IADMS Miami 2000   [back to the Category]

Application of Anatomical Principles to Teaching Turnout in Dance Technique Classes   [read the french version]

Author :   Karen Clippinger, M.S.P.E. and Kathryn Daniels, M.A.

Authors: Karen Clippinger, M.S.P.E., California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA, and Kathryn Daniels, M.A., Chair, Dance Department, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA, USA

"Turnout" ideally involves isolated rotation of the femur along its long axis while the pelvis remains stable. Basic bony, ligamental, and muscular factors which influence the possible extent of hip external rotation will be briefly reviewed and applied to dance training. Selected floor exercises will be demonstrated for and performed by participants which are designed to utilize the hip deep outward rotators to effect desired movement of the greater trochanter of the femur relative to the pelvis, such that range of motion is optimized without undue stress. The principles examined theoretically and demonstrated in these isolation exercises will then be applied to dance via the ballet barre. Participants will perform sample combinations at the barre which can be used to enhance dancers’ understanding of turnout, range of turnout, and appropriate timing of activation of turnout. This session will also provide examples of teaching cues and imagery based on these anatomical principles of turnout.

This is the abstract of a paper presented at the Tenth Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, held 27-29 October 2000 in Miami, Florida, USA. All rights are reserved by the individual author(s).