All Pro Arte Pre-Professional students in Pre-Intermediate/Intermediate/Advanced Programs are having dance physio screenings and conditioning analysis with Physiotherapist Erika Mayall (M.P.T, HBSc (kin) and Susie Higgins (Pilates instructor who is a non-practising physiotherapist from the UK) who are working in close tandem with our teachers.
Young dancers are very susceptible to injury during the growth spurt years and, as related by a orthopaedic surgeon for the Royal Ballet at the Birmingham International Association for Dance and Science conference – “all injuries can ultimately be traced to poor technique or wrong bio-mechanics.” Correct muscle recruitment patterns, muscle balance, working within an individual’s genetic range must all be carefully guided by the dance teacher and monitored by a dance physiotherapist. The dance conditioning specialist can assist with corrective and strengthening exercises and be an additional “eye” to recognise misalignment and poor recruitment patterns.
Students need to be encouraged how to “think” and not just “do” when they dance! Short cuts lead to short careers and injuries that will hamper your young dancer into their adult years.
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