| Good control of balance and stability of the foot and | | | | Howell (B.Phty) is a Physical Therapist (Physiotherapist) |
| ankle are essential in any dancer. However many | | | | based in Sydney, Australia, who specialises in the |
| dancers are unaware of the many things that combine | | | | assessment and treatment of dancers of all ages, |
| to give you good balance, and how to train the | | | | fromLisa Howell (B.Phty) is a Physical Therapist |
| components individually. Poor balance reactions may | | | | (Physiotherapist) based in Sydney, Australia, who |
| make your supporting foot wobble and you might find | | | | specialises in the assessment and treatment of |
| it hard to stabilize en demi-pointe, or be constantly | | | | dancers of all ages, from young students to |
| corrected for rolling arches! Poor stability in your | | | | professional level, and teachers. She is dedicated to |
| supporting ankle is a huge barrier in increasing how high | | | | the education of dancers to help prevent injury, and to |
| you can lift your leg en l'air, as you will be working off | | | | develop optimal performance at every level.To find out |
| an unstable base. | | | | more about "The Perfect Pointe Book" or to receive |
| There are so many things that can influence your | | | | the newsletter, go to young students to professional |
| balance, including; your vision; your sensation of where | | | | level, and teachers. She is dedicated to the education |
| your foot and ankle ligaments are (proprioception), and | | | | of dancers to help prevent injury, and to develop |
| the balance sensors that actually sit inside your inner | | | | optimal performance at every level.To find out more |
| ear. It is important to train the stability of the ankle while | | | | about "The Perfect Pointe Book" or to receive the |
| removing one or two of the feedback systems that | | | | newsletter, go to above in bare feet and then in your |
| we use to develop all parts of the complete system. | | | | pointe shoes and feel the difference! |
| Many dancers rely far too much on their vision to | | | | All of these are great tests and training ideas for |
| maintain their balance, and this becomes a problem | | | | improving your control of your ankles. Remember to |
| when turning or performing in low light situations. | | | | always switch on your deep turnout muscles and core |
| Test yourself and the strength of each system by | | | | stabilizing muscles when balancing in turnout, so that |
| trying each of the following exercises. Try standing on | | | | your hips don't twist too much! |
| a single leg in parallel or turnout, with each of the | | | | Developing control of the small 'intrinsic muscles of the |
| following variations: | | | | feet are essential to developing good balance. Many |
| ? Closing your eyes. | | | | ideal exercises for this are explained in The Perfect |
| ? Standing on a pillow, or soft foam mat. | | | | Pointe Book, a resource developed especially for |
| ? Try turning your head from side to side. | | | | dancers to gain optimum control of their feet and |
| ? Tilting the head from side to side. | | | | ankles. It is an essential component of any dance |
| ? Try a fondu/small knee bend on each leg. | | | | training whether or not the dancer is en pointe. |
| ? If you are already in pointe shoes, try all of thLisa | | | | |