Dance Is Foreplay

Most classical ballet dancers know that although their ballet dancing class progresses slowly so that body is well warmed up before hitting the centre work, they will get a lot more out of their class if they arrive ten minutes early to warm up and stretch.  Ballet requires long, lean and strong muscles to facilitate ballet technique.  These same muscles that work so hard in ballet class can become tight, bunchy and overdeveloped if not properly stretched.  It is also easier to coax your body into ballet's various positions without too much strain when your muscles are warm.

Warming up before class also prevents injury, especially those tiny niggly ones and small tears that are just serious enough to keep you from getting the most out of, and enjoying your classical ballet dancing class.

As humans we naturally want to practise what we can do well and avoid practicing what needs work.  Just look around you in a gym.  You often see the guy with the best biceps doing exercises for these same  muscles, or in dancing class, the best turners are practicing their pirouettes.  Yes it is good to be proud of what you do well, but you also have to overcome all those weaknesses.  In stretching this works the same, as we tend to stretch our more willing parts and avoid the muscles that tend to be stiffer.

You should never go straight into stretches before your body is warm, no mater how supple you are.  Start off warming up the body gently with gentle rises, ankle circles, shoulder rolls, etc.  Only once your body is warm is it appropriate to begin stretching.  Keep movements small and controlled rather than using ballistic bounces.  Avoid sudden forceful movements that can cause tears and strain.  Before class is definitely not the time to test out your full range of motion.  Transitions in and out of your stretches should also be slow and controlled.

Most importantly, listen to your body.  Anything that inflicts too much of the wrong type of pain is simply not worth doing - you will cry later on.  Stretching on your off days also contributes towards maintaining flexibility, and making your return to your ballet class so much easier.

For further insight into the wonderful world of classical ballet, visit:  http://balletdancing4U.blogspot.com