Safe Dance Training
Although we want each student to achieve their own technical potential, we must not over demand when wanting to achieve results with students who appear un-flexible lacking elasticity in muscle development while their body types that are changing as the grow. In some cases’ month to month.
Dance teachers must teach their students to understand proper “placement and alignment” from the very start of their dance training and keep reinforcing that in every class. Dance injury is often brought on by bad placement and alignment when performing higher level dance skills.
The biggest culprit relating to dance injury or body discomfort and muscle pain is from allowing students to do higher skilled moves without the knowledge or understanding on how to control their body instrument through properly trained technique. Especially if the student lacks strength, flexibility and turn-out.
Knee joints are put under great pressure during all take-off and landing of jumps. Incorrect technique while performing jumping moves can create discomfort and pain in the knees. Example, teaching “split jete” before the student has the basic technique to harness the skill successfully can be harmful.
Some dance injuries come from outside curriculum at school. Volleyball, basketball, gym, track & field and other types of curriculum may also cause the body muscles to become confused, therefore rebelling muscle memory qualities when dance training. Therefore, the muscles, ligaments, bones and joints take the wear and tear during dance training and performing.