In the upcoming issue of Dance Australia, Karen van Ulzen reveals that dance classes alone do not necessarily provide the type of aerobic workout dancers require. In the extract below, Emma Sandall explains why she included aerobic exercise in her training regime when she was a company dancer.
Throughout my career I almost always supplemented my dancing with aerobic exercise.
During my time in Bejart Ballet I swam regularly, usually for about 40 to 50 minutes at a time. My particular physique (and thanks to good training) meant that my body was extremely efficient at classical movement so I could rarely work up a sweat in a ballet class. Rehearsals after the daily class were often very focused on other specific movements and were usually anaerobic in nature.
Swimming gave me a chance to work my body in its entirety and over a longer period of time – for endurance.
The repetitive nature of exercise like swimming also gave me the chance to “dive” deeply into my body and my technique, stroke after stroke elongating my limbs and finding a pure co-ordination of all body parts.
In my experience, bodies become tired and lethargic standing around all day, waiting for rehearsals and filling in time. I found spiking my day with aerobic exercise was energising and physically and mentally beneficial – my time to myself with my body!”
-- Emma Sandall
Former dancer, co-director/choreographer, Ludwig. Currently director of Body Playground in Sydney.
This is an extract from Karen van Ulzen’s article on the benefits of extra fitness training for dancer. Read the rest of the article in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of Dance Australia!