THE BRIDGE: connecting the art and science of dance.
This is my gift to you.
You are a dancer. You are struggling with some aspect of your performance. Maybe there is pain involved or maybe not. To whom do you turn?
If you have pain you might go see a doctor. That person will do their best to diagnose a specific injury. That said, it is unlikely the underlying cause, often a technical fault, will be discovered. The injure, heal, reinjure can become a vicious cycle.
If you don’t have pain you might depend entirely on your teachers and/or coaches. For dancers if the concern is more artistic, this likely is the way to go. That being said, although teachers may seem to be excellent at what they do, their knowledge and training in anatomy and kinesiology (the study of human movement) as well as basic body mechanics may be limited. Without this knowledge instructions, that have been passed on through generations that are anatomically impossible, persist. You absolutely cannot lift your leg from underneath.
Without this deep understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy and movement mechanics, it can be challenging to give accurate individualized corrections regarding alignment and other technical issues.
I have over 35 years of professional experience helping people including dancers improve how they move.
Starting to seriously study ballet out of interest in my early twenties, I was the one who could not figure out how to lift her leg from underneath. I struggled to find help for a chronic ankle problem. This is what inspired me to complete a graduate degree in Kinesiology, become a physical therapist and ultimately a Feldenkrais® practitioner. I have taught Kinesiology for Dancers at Cornish College and when, I lived in a larger city regularly worked with dancers from barely teens to professional.
In this late stage of my career, the impetus to help dancers thrive is a strong one. With virtual everything now being a norm, I am sensing it is an appropriate time to reach out to a wider audience of dancers looking to bridge the gap between the art and science of dance so that can fully thrive in their pursuit. Adults who are relative beginners can really improve more quickly with this type of support.
You can learn more about my consultations on the Dancers’ Corner main page.