| Ballet strength can be a touchy subject with some | | | | still preaching this. Cross-training is a great way to |
| ballet teachers. This is uncharted territory when it | | | | work on your weaknesses as a dancer through ballet |
| comes to ballet, so there is not a ton of information | | | | strength exercises, Pilates, yoga, or even taking a few |
| about it out there. Let me take all of the guess work | | | | jazz classes! |
| out of it for you! To get started, here are a few basic | | | | Myth #3: Strength training causes loss of flexibility- |
| things that you need to know about strength training | | | | Untrue. It actually improves range of motion of muscles |
| for Dancers and how it can improve your | | | | and joints. It also enhances dance proprioception. This |
| performance and extend your career. | | | | creates improved awareness of your center of |
| Lets debunk the common strength training and cross | | | | gravity (think balance and turns). Any good |
| training myths that you have heard from your Ballet | | | | cross-training program will also incorporate stretching |
| teachers. | | | | towards the end of the workout. |
| Myth #1: You will get bulky muscles- This statement is | | | | Myth #4: Strength training is for Men- True, but it is also |
| totally untrue. In fact, if you are doing the correct | | | | beneficial for Women.There are many wonderful |
| exercises, your muscles should form a more elongated | | | | benefits to strength training including increased range |
| look! Strength training increases lean muscle mass. If | | | | of motion, injury prevention, increased lean muscle |
| you are working with a certified professional who | | | | mass, improves balance, increases and restores bone |
| understands a Dancers body, you should have any | | | | density, and enhances sports performance. Now just |
| problems with bulky muscles. Now not all of you can | | | | think of how much that can improve your dancing! |
| have access to trainers like myself or the New York | | | | I hope that through this post, you have a better |
| City Ballet's strength and conditioning team, so stay | | | | understanding of the real benefits of strength training |
| posted to my blog for valuable tips for exercises that | | | | for Ballet Dancers. Remember, your strength training |
| you can do on your own! | | | | program needs to be tailored towards dancers, not |
| Myth #2: Taking extra Ballet classes is the only way to | | | | just any program will do. Ballet Strength can help you |
| improve- Now most of you know that this is not true, | | | | make the improvements that you need to be at your |
| but there are some Ballet teachers out there who are | | | | best in the Ballet studio. |