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IADMS Miami 2000 [back to the Category]
Physiological Development of the Adolescent Dancer and How it Influences Performance [read the french version]
Jennifer Stacey, M.S.
Author: Jennifer Stacey, M.S., Peak Performance, San Francisco, CA, USA
Physiological development during childhood and adolescence is a factor of gender, genetics, environment, geography, culture and various other conditions. Therefore, a group of 13-year-old dancers vary greatly in height, weight, sexual development, maturity, and skill level. Some look like leggy colts, others like puppy dogs with large hands and feet.
The dancer’s future health, health habits, and performance depend upon intelligent, customized training during their growth years. It is a challenge to cater to each child in the dance class and company. Understanding simple motor development patterns empowers the dance teacher and health practitioner to customize programs for the young dancer during their turbulent growth spurt years.
During the growth spurt, performance temporarily declines or levels off. The adolescent must be informed that this is a temporary phase related to their growth patterns. It is up to the teacher or practitioner to educate the dancer on the importance of adhering to a healthy program that will give them the opportunity to advance more quickly in the future, and prevent tragic, and often permanent harm.
Purpose
1. A brief outline of the physiological development of the child and adolescent (for example: asymmetrical growth rate of bones, tissue, organs and systems).
2. A brief outline on how growth influences performance and training of the young dancer.
3. Present ideas on how to use this knowledge to create an effective dance program for adolescents. Present simple exercises that can be given to a young dancer.
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).
Physiological development during childhood and adolescence is a factor of gender, genetics, environment, geography, culture and various other conditions. Therefore, a group of 13-year-old dancers vary greatly in height, weight, sexual development, maturity, and skill level. Some look like leggy colts, others like puppy dogs with large hands and feet.
The dancer’s future health, health habits, and performance depend upon intelligent, customized training during their growth years. It is a challenge to cater to each child in the dance class and company. Understanding simple motor development patterns empowers the dance teacher and health practitioner to customize programs for the young dancer during their turbulent growth spurt years.
During the growth spurt, performance temporarily declines or levels off. The adolescent must be informed that this is a temporary phase related to their growth patterns. It is up to the teacher or practitioner to educate the dancer on the importance of adhering to a healthy program that will give them the opportunity to advance more quickly in the future, and prevent tragic, and often permanent harm.
Purpose
1. A brief outline of the physiological development of the child and adolescent (for example: asymmetrical growth rate of bones, tissue, organs and systems).
2. A brief outline on how growth influences performance and training of the young dancer.
3. Present ideas on how to use this knowledge to create an effective dance program for adolescents. Present simple exercises that can be given to a young dancer.
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).
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