Stretching the Point: Part 1

Author: Maggie Lorraine on behalf of the IADMS Education Committee

Learning how to bend the knees and point the feet may be the first movements that dance students learn. It is sobering to consider that both of these movements are potentially harmful if not executed correctly and practiced in perfect alignment. Experienced teachers of children and young people often notice that by encouraging students to “stretch” their feet rather than “point”, they are less likely to crunch their toes. Crunching results in a “shortened” line of the foot. On the other hand, “stretching” encourages the students to lengthen the leg through to the ankle and arch of the foot. Anatomically speaking we are talking here about plantarflexion of the ankle of course, although this actual term is seldom used in a teaching context.

Putting on a Conference: An Interview with IADMS Day for Teachers organizer Brenton Surgenor

A Day for Teachers is an important part of the annual IADMS programme. This popular event evolves year by year depending on where it is and who is organizing it. To find out exactly how the programme is developed I sat down with this year’s organizer, Brenton Surgenor, to find out what makes A Day for Teacher Hong Kong unique.

Putting on a Conference: An Interview with the IADMS Program Committee Chair Alexander McKinven

Alexander McKinven is the IADMS Program Committee Chair and works year-round to prepare for the IADMS Conference. Here are his answers to a few questions we had about what goes into planning a conference.

Getting ready for the conference: Students and Young Professionals

The annual conference is fast approaching and it’s time to start making plans. This year the exciting city of Wanchai, Hong Kong will be on the map as the second Asian location for the meeting to be held. Here are a few things we’ve been thinking about in preparation for heading to the tropical paradise in a cosmopolitan city, which happens to have the highest density of 7-Eleven shops in the world AND the world’s largest collection of skyscrapers…

Foot Injuries in Dancers. Are they preventable?

Author: Maggie Lorraine on behalf of the IADMS Education Committee 

Perfecting the art of dance requires long hours of intensive training over many years with constant repetitions of exercises to refine and perfect the execution of sequences and movements. Dance places high demands on the body and for this reason professional dance training institutions often include physique testing, conducted by the resident physiotherapist as part of the audition process. Subsequently even the physiques that are deemed “ideal” for training at a pre professional level are at risk of injury as a result of faulty alignment and technique. In recent years the quest for greater virtuosity in performance has added an extra layer of risk to the aspiring young dancer who is hoping to achieve a career in dance. Issues such as more intrusive stretching techniques to achieve higher extensions of the leg, bigger and higher jumps with added complexity, more virtuosic turns and particularly greater engagement of the spine in movement. These trends have all added to the necessity for dance teachers to have a comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology. This knowledge will give teachers the information to guide their students to reach their full potential and to avoid sustaining injuries.

Caring for bony injury demystified!

Author: Meredith Butulis

Welcome to Part Three of our three part series on muscle, ligament, and bone injuries. We will explore some common myths and how you can use current evidence to efficiently return to optimal performance. This month we will explore bony injuries.

Maybe you should stop dancing… a little

Authors: Luke Hopper and Peta Blevins 

We all know how super hard dancers work. Dance is a passion, a lifestyle and an identity for millions of people around the world. And you only get to the top with hard work and grit right? But can you have too much of a good thing?

TaMed Dance Medicine Conference Report

Author: Richard Gilmore 

How to begin to capture my impressions of the weekend? The essence of the 13th Congress for Dance Medicine held by the Dance Medicine Organization in Dresden on this past Mother’s Day weekend requires a mental review of the subjects, ideas and movement classes. The fact that so many people were sufficiently captivated to stay indoors while the sun gave Germany a first preview of summer speaks for the event and for the inventiveness of our presenters and organizers. There are always new approaches and new aspects of dance medicine worth lending our ears, but also our bodies and souls.

Caring for ligament sprains demystified!

Author: Meredith Butulis

Welcome to Part Two of our three part series on muscle, ligament, and bone injuries. We will explore some common myths and how you can use current evidence to efficiently return to optimal performance. This month we will explore ligamentous injuries.

Bridging Dance and Health in Brazil V – Towards a Brazilian framework for dancers’ health and wellbeing

Author: Clara Fischer Gam

Welcome to the last installation of the series about the opportunities and challenges of Dance and Health in Brazil! Since January, we have been delving into the Brazilian dance sector through the eyes of our local IADMS members. Along this post series, we have been exploring information accessibility issues and public policies impasses, meeting inspiring initiatives, and familiarizing with the dance career pathways in the country. Today, as we get to the end of a journey, another one begins: this time towards a Brazilian framework for dancers’ health and wellbeing.