Writing Style 3

Future fit training limited (2006) states that Lordotic posture or Lordosis is very common in dancers; its defining characteristic is “where the lower back has an excessive curve”. Initially a number of the young girls in Power Academy of Dance Grade 4 Imperial ballet class displayed the anterior pelvic tilt, the lengthened rectus abdominus, the flexed hip joint, the hyper-extended lumbar spine and relaxed gluteals associated with Lordotic posture (http://www.mgmpt.com/id6.html [Accessed 16 November 09]). Correct posture is essential in ballet, Jackie Pelly physiotherapist is quoted in Lantin (2005) stating “If dancers maintain a neutral posture, they are not putting the body under so much strain, and are less likely to sustain injury” (The Telegraph, Lantin, 2005) and therefore it is essential for a dance teacher to instruct on good posture. Buxton (2008) dictates the ideal posture in the dance genre of ballet involves the “spine neutral and elongated by the lengthening support of the abdominal and spinal muscles, turn out held in the deep rotators, and the gluteals or butt muscles not over supporting, allowing your hip bone and pelvis of the working side to relax down” (Buxton, 2008, Buzzle.com [Online]). When considering the ages of the students it is necessary to provide them with an increased understanding of the technical requirements of posture as “puberty is an important stage for acquiring elite performance skills (ISTD Dance Examination Board, 2005, p38).

ISTD Dance Examination Board (2005) quotes Fontana (1995) declaring that association, visual presentation, repetition as well as recognition are acknowledged “strategies for assisting memory” (ISTD Dance Examination Board, 2005, p76-77). Although the students of the grade 4 imperial ballet class had been introduced to posture before the initial lesson this was through association only (told to stand like princesses and pull in those tummy’s) and this concept was never defined as posture however during the initial lesson the technical concept of posture was introduced and by using Fontana’s (2005) proven techniques of assisting memory, association, visual representation and repetition were all used in the initial lesson followed by repletion, recall and recognition in the weekly lessons over the forth coming month, technical improvement were visible. However without the addition of positive praise to the memory strategies White (1991) states that “self-esteem is the pivotal point between success and failure; it has a marked effect on learning” (White 1991, quoted in Buckroyd 2000, p 73). By the end of the four week period marked improvements were visible on a number of students in the class with their spines more elongated, abdominal muscles and gluteal’s active and the hip bones and pelvis relaxed and therefore level, essentially their initial Lordotic posture was not as severe as that observed in the initial lesson. A continuation of repetition, recall and recognition will enable the students to continue to improve their technical ability thus enhancing any work that they perform.