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Integrating movement analysis with ballet teaching
Karin, Janet Annear BEd, The Australian Ballet School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Dance science research enables those working in rehabilitation and injury prevention to develop new methods of improving movement efficiency in dance technique. However it can be difficult to amalgamate new approaches with the traditional delivery of classical ballet training, particularly when students with inefficient movement patterns are also undertaking daily class at an advanced level.
Over the past five years, an elite training institution has developed a system for integrating the two approaches to young dancers? training. The system, which necessitated some timetable changes, was developed in stages, with the classical ballet teachers and the movement specialist working together to ensure their methodology and language, though different, were mutually supportive.
Students start by refining small elements of alignment and movement with simple exercises involving imagery and touch. Once established, these tools are gradually transferred to exercises which more closely resemble class work. In the following technical class, the transfer of new learning is facilitated by using the same cues in exercises which gradually re-introduce all the normal elements of classical technique.
The movement presentation demonstrates the collaborative approach adopted between ballet technique teachers and a movement specialist at this training institution, and offers delegates an opportunity to experience the strategies themselves. Each concept of alignment and motor patterning is first introduced by the movement specialist and demonstrated with a student. The technique teacher follows this with specifically-designed classical ballet exercises which focus on the application of the same concepts. Delegates may choose to experiment with both sets of exercises, with hands-on guidance from both instructors. Adaptation of this collaborative approach to delegates? own teaching situations can be explored.