Advice for dancers.I'VE JUST BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A FULL-TIME DANCE PROGRAM IN 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 . BUT AS A FLIGHT STEWARDESS I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DANCE CLASSES. I NOTICE, TOO, THAT AFTER EACH CLASS MY BODY ACHES AND I DON'T SLEEP WELL. WHY IS THAT SO? ALSO, HOW CAN I MAINTAIN MY PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IF I CAN'T FIND A DANCE JOB BACK HOME?--TAN SIEW SIEW Signals Intelligence and Electronic Warfare HUI FROM SINGAPORE It isn't easy to stay in shape with air travel. In fact, dancers who tour in different countries often have to improvise by doing a ballet barre in their room (hanging onto the bureau) or working out at the hotel gym. Flying across several different time zones, especially from east to west, will also produce many physical and psychological stresses, known as jet lag jet lag Period of adjustment of biological rhythm after moving from one time zone to another, experienced as fatigue and lowered efficiency. It reflects a delay in the synchronization of changes in the level of blood cortisol, the major steroid produced by the adrenal cortex or circadian circadian /cir·ca·di·an/ (ser-ka´de-an) denoting a 24-hour period; see under rhythm. cir·ca·di·an adj. Relating to biological variations or rhythms with a cycle of about 24 hours. dysrhythmia dysrhythmia /dys·rhyth·mia/ (dis-rith´me-ah) 1. disturbance of rhythm. 2. an abnormal cardiac rhythm; the term arrhythmia is usually used, even for abnormal but regular rhythms. . Besides disrupting your sleep and eating patterns, traveling by air can be scary--even for flight attendants. Try to minimize jet lag by making a gradual shift in your daily habits before departure. Then, find a way to work out on a regular basis, using a variety of tools, such as dance class, yoga, weight training, and aerobic exercise aerobic exercise, n sustained repetitive physical activity, such as walking, dancing, cycling, and swimming, that elevates the heart rate and increases oxygen consumption resulting in improved functioning of cardio-vascular and respiratory systems. . Creating your own fitness regimen will help you to prepare for your dance program as well as maintain your technique during the audition process. I AM 13 YEARS OLD AND LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN WITHOUT A REALLY GOOD DANCE STUDIO. MY PARENTS ARE THINKING OF SENDING ME TO A BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PROFESSIONAL DANCE TRAINING. IS THIS ASSUMPTION CORRECT FOR MY AGE, OR ARE THERE OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO GOING AWAY TO SCHOOL?--ISABEL FROM FLORIDA Boarding school is a great way to train with some of the best teachers in the country. However, moving away from home at your age is a big deal. As a result, many young dancers supplement their training by attending challenging summer dance programs before enrolling in a boarding school in their mid-teens. To discover your options, check out the annual Summer Study Guide in each January issue of DANCE MAGAZINE and the Guide to Performing Arts Programs: Profiles of Over 600 Colleges, High Schools, and Summer Programs (Princeton Review, 1998). I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'M SO HUNGRY. I'VE SEEN 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 EAT A HEALTHY DIET THAT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 1,800 CALORIES A DAY. FOOD ISN'T AN ISSUE WHEN I'M RESTED, BUT AS SOON AS I'M TIRED I HEAD FOR THE REFRIGERATOR. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?--BOTTOMLESS PIT Many factors can increase your appetite. While the most common reason for hunger pangs is dieting, few dancers realize that sleep deprivation can also make them feel ravenous. Why? Lack of sleep affects your blood sugar and reduces the production of leptin Leptin A protein hormone that affects feeding behavior and hunger in humans. At present it is thought that obesity in humans may result in part from insensitivity to leptin. , a protein hormone that makes you feel full. You've already taken an important step by seeing a nutritionist, who can ensure that you're eating a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Now see what happens if you stop depriving yourself of sleep. SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., at 2000 Broadway, PH2C, New York, NY 10023 and read her answers exclusively in DANCE MAGAZINE. 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). |
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