Sharing the Dance
Sharing the Dance

Author: Cynthia J. Novack

Publisher: Univ of Wisconsin Press

Published: 1990-08-15

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 0299124444

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In Sharing the Dance, Cynthia Novack considers the development of contact improvisation within its web of historical, social, and cultural contexts. This book examines the ways contact improvisers (and their surrounding communities) encode sexuality, spontaneity, and gender roles, as well as concepts of the self and society in their dancing. While focusing on the changing practice of contact improvisation through two decades of social transformation, Novack’s work incorporates the history of rock dancing and disco, the modern and experimental dance movements of Merce Cunningham, Anna Halprin, and Judson Church, among others, and a variety of other physical activities, such as martial arts, aerobics, and wrestling.

Injury Prevention and Management for Dancers
Injury Prevention and Management for Dancers

Author: Nick Allen

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2019-11-25

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13: 1785006584

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Dancers represent a unique athletic population. They can often be required to perform a variety of shows of differing intensity and styles: professional ballet dancers may perform up to 150 shows a year, across eighteen different productions. The dynamic and demanding nature of dance can however lead to injury, making injury prevention and management a vital part of dance training. Drawing on research and knowledge from both sports and dance medicine, this book will provide dance and healthcare professionals with a fundamental understanding of dance terminology, physiology and movement requirements, and how these relate to specific injuries commonly sustained in dance. Proposed models and structures of pathology-specific rehabilitation and usable examples are illustrated with step-by-step photographs and anatomical diagrams, as well as case studies for common injuries. Training programmes, conditioning exercises and advice are supported by findings from contemporary medical literature to ensure an informed, conclusive and evidence-based approach to the healthcare of dancers. Chapters will cover a range of issues including the unique challenges seen in dance and how they differ from other athletic populations; physical preparation and conditioning for dance; injury prevention, tracking and management models and an exploration of the regional anatomical injuries commonly seen in dance. Structured rehabilitation and detailed exercise programmes are covered and dance criteria for musculoskeletal injuries, concussion and post-surgery are discussed.

What You Become in Flight
What You Become in Flight

Author: Ellen O'Connell Whittet

Publisher: Melville House

Published: 2020-04-14

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 1612198333

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"Poignant and exquisite"--The Los Angeles Review of Books "An inspiring and powerful book"--Booklist "A genuinely absorbing read"--Kirkus "Revelatory, honest, and wondrous."--Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name A lyrical and meditative memoir on the damage we inflict in the pursuit of perfection, the pain of losing our dreams, and the power of letting go of both. With a promising career in classical ballet ahead of her, Ellen O'Connell Whittet was devastated when a misstep in rehearsal caused a career-ending injury. Ballet was the love of her life. She lived for her moments under the glare of the stage-lights--gliding through the air, pretending however fleetingly to effortlessly defy gravity. Yet with a debilitating injury forcing her to reconsider her future, she also began to reconsider what she had taken for granted in her past. Beneath every perfect arabesque was a foot, disfigured by pointe shoes, stuffed--taped and bleeding--into a pink, silk slipper. Behind her ballerina's body was a young girl starving herself into a fragile collection of limbs. Within her love of ballet was a hatred of herself for struggling to achieve the perfection it demanded of her. In this raw and redemptive debut memoir, Ellen O'Connell Whittet explores the silent suffering of the ballerina--and finds it emblematic of the violence that women quietly shoulder every day. For O'Connell Whittet, letting go of one meant confronting the other--only then was it possible to truly take flight.

Dance Medicine in Practice
Dance Medicine in Practice

Author: Liane Simmel

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-10-30

Total Pages: 508

ISBN-13: 1136483756

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Dance Medicine in Practice is the complete physical textbook for dance, written specifically to help dancers understand the anatomy, function and care of their bodies. Specific chapters are devoted to focusing on the spine, pelvis, hips, knees, feet, shoulders and arms. Each of these covers the following key aspects: Anatomy: bone structure, musculature, and function. How each part of the body moves and how it responds under pressure Pitfalls: Common examples of bad practice and the effect that these can have on the body Self Analysis: How to become aware of and muscle groups and the capacity of each joint. Injury Prevention: Tips and advice on how to best avoid and prevent injury both in training and everyday life Exercises: Simple and effective methods of strengthening, mobilising and relaxing joints and muscles Checklists: Dos and Don’ts for the best dance technique. The best dancers know that looking after their bodies is the key to their success, and Dance Medicine in Practice also covers how to ensure the best possible nutrition, plan and manage training schedules, and ensure that injuries are kept to a minimum both in frequency and impact. It is the best possible companion to a life in dance.

A Body of Work
A Body of Work

Author: David Hallberg

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2017-11-07

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 1476771170

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David Hallberg, the first American to join the famed Bolshoi Ballet as a principal dancer and the dazzling artist The New Yorker described as “the most exciting male dancer in the western world,” presents a look at his artistic life—up to the moment he returns to the stage after a devastating injury that almost cost him his career. Beginning with his real-life Billy Elliot childhood—an all-American story marred by intense bullying—and culminating in his hard-won comeback, Hallberg’s “moving and intelligent” (Daniel Mendelsohn) memoir dives deep into life as an artist as he wrestles with ego, pushes the limits of his body, and searches for ecstatic perfection and fulfillment as one of the world’s most acclaimed ballet dancers. Rich in detail ballet fans will adore, Hallberg presents an “unsparing…inside look” (The New York Times) and also reflects on universal and relatable themes like inspiration, self-doubt, and perfectionism as he takes you into daily classes, rigorous rehearsals, and triumphant performances, searching for new interpretations of ballet’s greatest roles. He reveals the loneliness he felt as a teenager leaving America to join the Paris Opera Ballet School, the ambition he had to tame as a new member of American Ballet Theatre, and the reasons behind his headline-grabbing decision to be the first American to join the top rank of Bolshoi Ballet, tendered by the Artistic Director who would later be the victim of a vicious acid attack. Then, as Hallberg performed throughout the world at the peak of his abilities, he suffered a crippling ankle injury and botched surgery leading to an agonizing retreat from ballet and an honest reexamination of his entire life. Combining his powers of observation and memory with emotional honesty and artistic insight, Hallberg has written a great ballet memoir and an intimate portrait of an artist in all his vulnerability, passion, and wisdom. “Candid and engrossing” (The Washington Post), A Body of Work is a memoir “for everyone with a heart” (DC Metro Theater Arts).

The Ballet Companion
The Ballet Companion

Author: Eliza Gaynor Minden

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2007-11-01

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 1416595716

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A New Classic for Today's Dancer The Ballet Companion is a fresh, comprehensive, and thoroughly up-to-date reference book for the dancer. With 150 stunning photographs of ballet stars Maria Riccetto and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating perfect execution of positions and steps, this elegant volume brims with everything today's dance student needs, including: Practical advice for getting started, such as selecting a school, making the most of class, and studio etiquette Explanations of ballet fundamentals and major training systems An illustrated guide through ballet class -- warm-up, barre, and center floor Guidelines for safe, healthy dancing through a sensible diet, injury prevention, and cross-training with yoga and Pilates Descriptions of must-see ballets and glossaries of dance, music, and theater terms Along the way you'll find technique secrets from stars of American Ballet Theatre, lavishly illustrated sidebars on ballet history, and tips on everything from styling a ballet bun to stage makeup to performing the perfect pirouette. Whether a budding ballerina, serious student, or adult returning to ballet, dancers will find a lively mix of ballet's time-honored traditions and essential new information.

Safe Dance Practice
Safe Dance Practice

Author: Quin, Edel

Publisher: Human Kinetics

Published: 2015-05-13

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 1450496458

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Safe Dance Practice bridges the gap between research and application for dancers and dance educators at all levels. The book presents integrated guidelines and principles that will maximize physical and mental well-being without compromising creativity and expression.

Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, 2E
Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, 2E

Author: Clippinger, Karen

Publisher: Human Kinetics

Published: 2015-11-09

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13: 1450469280

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Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, Second Edition, retains its scientific perspective while offering greater accessibility to a wider audience. The streamlined approach makes the content more accessible in a single undergraduate course, and the text comes with a suite of online ancillaries.

Prevention of Injuries in the Young Dancer
Prevention of Injuries in the Young Dancer

Author: Ruth Solomon

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-07-05

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 3319550470

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This practical resource discusses the numerous physical, psychological, and medical issues pertaining to the young dancer as they relate to injury prevention. Chapters on injury are arranged anatomically and cover etiology, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and rehabilitation. Additional chapters cover screening, nutrition, training technique, and the role of the physical therapist. This comprehensive text addresses the unique needs of these athletes and stresses how their bodies differ in significant ways from those of adults, requiring that their training and clinical management be overseen by specialized personnel. The book opens with a discussion of the epidemiology of injury in the young dancer, followed by a description of screening procedures and a sample screening program. Physical therapy and resistance training are then covered, along with common conditions and injuries at the spine, hip, knee, and foot/ankle complex. There are chapters on the use of diagnostic and interventional ultrasound, nutrition and bone health, psychological matters such as anxiety, eating disorders, and peer relationships, and lastly the prevention of degenerative hip injuries. Prevention of Injuries in the Young Dancer is an essential resource with regard to the challenges facing aspiring young dancers. It is relevant reading for dance medicine, sports medicine, and orthopedic professionals, as well as dancers, their parents, and especially those persons who promote their careers.

A Time to Dance
A Time to Dance

Author: Padma Venkatraman

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2014-05-01

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0698158261

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Padma Venkatraman’s inspiring story of a young girl’s struggle to regain her passion and find a new peace is told lyrically through verse that captures the beauty and mystery of India and the ancient bharatanatyam dance form. This is a stunning novel about spiritual awakening, the power of art, and above all, the courage and resilience of the human spirit. Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes dance—so when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl who’s grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. But Veda refuses to let her disability rob her of her dreams, and she starts all over again, taking beginner classes with the youngest dancers. Then Veda meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit. As their relationship deepens, Veda reconnects with the world around her, and begins to discover who she is and what dance truly means to her.