ADVICE FOR DANCERS.Q I'm a fifteen-year-old male dancer from Seattle who has good turnout only in my right leg. Why is this? How can I get my left leg to look more like my right one? Eric A Unfortunately, turnout is rarely straightforward. While some dancers are born with symmetrical turnout, others have one side that's better than the other. It's also possible to be turned out in the hips but not in the knees, or vice versa VICE VERSA. On the contrary; on opposite sides. . My advice is to do some gentle stretching every day. But listen to your body! Dancers who force their turnout can develop serious injuries. Q I recently hit puberty, causing my body to change. Now I have hips, thighs, and bigger boobs. How can I ,form my body into the ideal look of classical ballet? I don't need to lose weight. Hopeful A You can't change your basic anatomy; however, you can make significant improvements by adding aerobics and a Pilates-based exercise program to your regime. Dancers with large breasts can also create the illusion of a more streamlined look with the Angelic Support Bra, which is used by major dance companies such as New York City Ballet New York City Ballet, one of the foremost American dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded by Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine as the Ballet Society in 1946. . For more information, contact Angela Kostritzky, 209 Columbus Ave., #C, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY 10023, (212) 579-0525. Q What can I do to get food off my mind? My dance teacher is thinking of kicking me out of her studio because I'm addicted to eating and am extremely overweight. Ballerina with a Hippo's Appetite A Weight gain is complicated. If you've just come off a starvation diet starvation diet Very low calorie diet Nutrition A fad diet that provides 300-700 kcal/day, which must be supplemented with high quality protein; given the risk of death through intractable cardiac arrhythmias Side effects Orthostatic hypotension due to loss of then you've set your body up to overeat o·ver·eat v. To eat to excess, especially habitually. , so it's natural to gain weight. Emotions can also cause you to pig out, especially if you're anxious or depressed. There are also some medical conditions that can cause dancers to gain weight, such as an under-active thyroid. To sort things out, get a clean bill of health a certificate from the proper authority that a ship is free from infection. See also: Clean from your doctor. Then see a nutritionist nu·tri·tion·ist n. One who is trained or is an expert in the field of nutrition. nutritionist Dietitian, see there and follow her recommendations. If you're still having problems, counseling by an eating disorders eating disorders, in psychology, disorders in eating patterns that comprise four categories: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, rumination disorder, and pica. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation to avoid obesity. specialist may be useful. The resource directory in my book, Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass, 1998), lists health-care services that cater to dancers. Q I'm a serious twelve-year-old dancer with one thing holding me back--my extension. While I have the strength to do a great attitude, my leg drops a lot in arabesque arabesque (ărəbĕsk`) [Fr.,=Arabian], in art, term applied to any complex, linear decoration based on flowing lines. In Islamic art it was often exploited to cover entire surfaces. . Is this because I have natural hip turnout? Frustrated in New York A I doubt it. According to orthopedists, extension depends on your flexibility and strength, not your turnout. Still, a physical therapist who specializes in dance may be able to help with an exercise program combining strengthening and stretching. Q Ballet is always in my heart, yet doing it makes me miserable. The problem is that I feel like a has-been at the age of twenty. I'm not in a dance company and auditions intimidate me. I've tried quitting ballet for a few months but I always come back. Please help! I'm really confused. Going in Circles A Right now, you're labeling yourself a has-been. Is this fair? The fact is that ballet jobs are hard to find--even if you're talented! To give yourself a chance, keep auditioning for a couple of years with the support of a good teacher. Don't put all your eggs in one basket Don't put all your eggs in one basket is a idiomatic phrase meaning that one should not focus all his or her resources on one hope, possibility or avenue of success. Identification ; it will be easier to handle rejection if you have a good "survival job" or take college courses on the side. Associate professor at Fordham University, Linda Hamilton, Ph.D, is also a psychologist in private practice, a former dancer with New York City Ballet, and author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass). Send your questions to her at Dance Magazine, 33 West 60 St., New York, NY 10023. |
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