Safe Dance Practices
Safe Dance Practices
Dance is an art form in which the body is the instrument of expression. When it comes to seeking movement perfection, no physical endeavour can compare with dance. Arnheim, 1991 p. 3
A recent study by medical researchers, of over sixty different athletic activities, ranked ballet second to only football in terms of physical, mental and environmental demands.
Today’s teacher of dance has an integral role to play in both creating a safe environment for dance education to take place, and ensuring the knowledge, skill and attitudinal development necessary for healthy dancers. The Australian Code of Ethics for Dance Teachers, emphasises a safe dance environment in which, both studio principals and individual teacher will ensure that facilities provided, conform to minimum safety and space requirements and have suitable flooring, with a safe surface designed and constructed to minimise risk of injury. Ausdance industry committee (as cited on Ausdance website)
Dance injuries are those injuries resulting from all dance related activities, whether at home, in the studio or the workplace (for the professional dancer). The causes of these injuries, for the main part, fall into two distinct categories – firstly, faulty technique and/or physical limitations and secondly, environmental factors. For the purpose of this assignment, I will be discussing two common injuries from each of these two categories. Temperature is an important environmental factor. Although a degree of warmth is needed to prevent muscle injuries, a studio that is too hot can also result in serious problems, something that is particularly relevant in the Australian climate. Heat stress is one injury factor that can easily be overlooked. Regardless of age, physical development and ability, a dancer’s reaction to heat is a very important consideration for teachers. Like any athletes, individual dancers start sweating at different temperatures, and at different rates, according
Dance is an art form in which the body is the instrument of expression. When it comes to seeking movement perfection, no physical endeavour can compare with dance. Arnheim, 1991 p. 3
A recent study by medical researchers, of over sixty different athletic activities, ranked ballet second to only football in terms of physical, mental and environmental demands.
Today’s teacher of dance has an integral role to play in both creating a safe environment for dance education to take place, and ensuring the knowledge, skill and attitudinal development necessary for healthy dancers. The Australian Code of Ethics for Dance Teachers, emphasises a safe dance environment in which, both studio principals and individual teacher will ensure that facilities provided, conform to minimum safety and space requirements and have suitable flooring, with a safe surface designed and constructed to minimise risk of injury. Ausdance industry committee (as cited on Ausdance website)
Dance injuries are those injuries resulting from all dance related activities, whether at home, in the studio or the workplace (for the professional dancer). The causes of these injuries, for the main part, fall into two distinct categories – firstly, faulty technique and/or physical limitations and secondly, environmental factors. For the purpose of this assignment, I will be discussing two common injuries from each of these two categories. Temperature is an important environmental factor. Although a degree of warmth is needed to prevent muscle injuries, a studio that is too hot can also result in serious problems, something that is particularly relevant in the Australian climate. Heat stress is one injury factor that can easily be overlooked. Regardless of age, physical development and ability, a dancer’s reaction to heat is a very important consideration for teachers. Like any athletes, individual dancers start sweating at different temperatures, and at different rates, according
Bibliography: TEXT RESOURCES Arnheim, Daniel D., 3rd Edition (1991) Dance Injuries Their Prevention and Care Clarkson, Priscilla M & Skrinar, Margaret (Ed.) (1988) Science of Dance Training USA Human Kinetics Books. Howse, Justin & Hancock, Shirley, (1988) Dance Techniques and Injury Prevention. London: A&C Black (Publishers) Ltd. Rist, Rachael, (1999), Modification to dance training during the Adolescent Spurt London: Dance Gazette, Royal Academy of Dance. (as cited RAD Study guide CBTS 103) Ryan, Alan J Watkins, A & Clarkson, P, (1990) Dancing Longer Dancing Stronger, A dancer’s guide to improving technique & preventing injury. New Jersey USA: Princeton Book Co.