Advice for dancers.I AM A 22-YEAR-OLD MODERN DANCER AUDITIONING FOR SMALL COMPANIES WITH MUCH SUCCESS. HOWEVER, I WORRY THAT BIGGER COMPANIES WON'T HIRE ME BECAUSE I'M FLAT-FOOTED. I'VE TRIED STRETCHING AND RELIEVES ON POINTE pointe n. In ballet, dancing that is performed on the tips of the toes. [From French pointe (des pieds), point (of the feet), tiptoe; see point.] , MASSAGE, AND VARIOUS THERA-BAND[R] EXERCISES. BUT MY FEET STILL LOOK LIKE I DON'T EVEN DANCE AT ALL! ANY SUGGESTIONS?--TRYING TO LOOK PROFESSIONAL IN ARIZONA While it's possible to mold your feet until the age of 13, orthopedists tell me there's little you can do to improve your arch once you stop growing. Why? Because foot type is genetically determined. The three main foot types include the normal foot (medium arch), the cavus foot (high arch high arch Pes cavus Orthopedics A foot characterized by a high anteroposterior arch, which is due to either orthopedic or neuromuscular defects ), and the planus foot (low arch or flatfoot). In general, the higher the arch, the greater the chance of injuries. Unlike the normal foot, which absorbs energy, the cavus foot is rigid, making it more prone to stress fractures, impingement syndromes (where the bones press together in the front and the ankle during plie pli·é n. A ballet movement in which the knees are bent while the back is held straight. [French, from past participle of plier, to fold, bend, from Old French; see pliant.] ), and sprained ankles. A flatfoot flatfoot Congenital or acquired flatness of the arch of the foot, in which the foot and heel usually also roll outward, resulting in a splayfooted position. Initially, it may result from ligament stretching and muscle weakness. , in contrast, creates a poor releve, which is less of an issue in modern dance than ballet. Still, it tends to be hypermobile, often causing you to roll in when jumping. My advice is to audition for small and large modern dance companies, while working correctly to avoid injuries. I'M 41 YEARS OLD AND CAN'T TOUCH MY TOES, EVEN THOUGH I DO YOGA. IS THERE A DEVICE OR EXERCISE YOU CAN SUGGEST TO HELP?--DAVID FROM HAMLIN, PA I can understand your wish to be more flexible. Besides increasing your range of motion, you'll be less likely to get muscle pulls. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. dance medicine specialists, your inability to touch your toes is probably due to tight hamstrings. Other causes include tight hips or lower back muscles, or possibly unrecognized conditions in the spine such as fused lower vertebrae Vertebrae Bones in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the body that make up the vertebral column. Vertebrae have a central foramen (hole), and their superposition makes up the vertebral canal that encloses the spinal cord. . Physical therapy can help you find out what's wrong and what to do about it. You can find an appropriate referral in the Dance Medicine Resource Guide, available from the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science at www.iadms.org. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A LOVELY YOUNG DANCER IN MY CLASS WHO IS LOSING TOO MUCH WEIGHT. I'VE SPOKEN TO HER MOTHER ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT NEITHER SHE NOR MY STUDENT FEELS IT'S NECESSARY TO GET MEDICAL HELP. WHAT CAN I DO TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK TREATMENT?--WORRIED TEACHER Don't let her dance! Eating problems affect virtually every system in the body. Some of the health problems, such as poor temperature regulation, are basically harmless. Others, including cardiac arrhythmias, severe electrolyte imbalances, and rupture of the esophagus esophagus (ĭsŏf`əgəs), portion of the digestive tube that conducts food from the mouth to the stomach. When food is swallowed it passes from the pharynx into the esophagus, initiating rhythmic contractions (peristalsis) of the , are life-threatening. While you might rely on a dancer's parents to seek appropriate treatment, they may deny the problem because 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. run in families. Instead, dance teachers should enforce a strict policy that requires a sensible weight goal (with regular weigh-ins for those who are too thin) coupled with evidence that the dancer is seeking appropriate treatment. To find out more about a healthy weight for height, you can check out my book Advice for Dancers. Send your questions to: Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., at 2000 Broadway, PH2C, 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. former 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. dancer Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., is a lecturer, a psychologist in private practice, and author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass). She has been offering advice to Dance Magazine readers since 1992. |
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