Getting pointe shoes fitted correctly is important to decrease the risk of injury but can also be very overwhelming. Here are some of the things to think about at your next pointe shoe fitting:
How to tie your pointe shoe ribbons
Tying your ribbons and making sure they don’t come undone in the middle of class takes practice. Here is a quick little “how to” video to get you started. There is also a neat little trick for undoing the ribbons – perfect for those quick changes!
Continue readingHow to sew your pointe shoe ribbons
Sewing your own ribbons is not only an important skill but also becomes part of the ritual of preparing your shoes for class or performance. Every dancer has their own way of sewing their ribbons and elastics to ensure their shoe conforms to and supports their foot. This is a process of trial and error and lots of practice! So to start you off, I have created a little “how to” video to teach the basics.
Posture and Dance
We all know that there is an “ideal” posture that we all strive to achieve while we are in dance class, but what is it and why is it so important?
BE CALM & Don’t Ice!
In 1978 the term RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) was devised by Dr. Gabe Mirkin for the treatment of athletic injuries. 40 years later, a lot more research has been done and it has shown that ice is actually harming, rather than healing our bodies! Even Dr Mirkin has recently publicly stated that his recommendations are out-dated! Instead; the BE CALM protocol is preferred – more on that later!
Core Stability versus Core Strength
Everyone is talking about the importance of “core stability”. It is a hot topic both in and out of the dance studio among dancers and teachers alike. When true core stability is seen in a dancer, they develop dynamic control of their body. The ease of movement achieved allows the dancer complete freedom to accomplish their technical requirements with efficient muscle recruitment and co-ordination.
Using Imagery in Dance
Images are powerful. Television advertisers, magazine editors and even your favourite social media identities use imagery every day. Images can make us feel something, they can inspire us and they can help us understand things.
So what is Imagery?
Continue readingHypermobility versus Flexibility
Here’s the deal: the term ‘flexibility’ refers to muscles while the term ‘hypermobility’ refers to ligaments. Muscles and ligaments are two distinct types of tissues which perform very different functions in the body.