Academic Draft 2 (3)

Grade 4 Imperial Classical Ballet students achieve ‘correct’ posture, combating Lordosis through successful teaching methods.

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 classical 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). The students of the grade 4 imperial ballet class had been introduced to posture before the initial lesson on the 14th October, this was through association only (told to stand like princesses and pull in those tummy’s). Previously this concept was never defined as posture until the initial lesson, when the technical concept of posture were introduced using Fontana’s (2005) proven techniques of assisting memory, association, visual representation and repetition. In the forthcoming month repletion, recall and recognition were also used resulting in visible technical improvement. 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) meaning that improvement would not have been possible without aiding the student’s self-esteem. By the 11th November 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 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.

References:

Future Fit Training Limited, 2006, Posture Types [Online],mgmpt.com. Available from: http://www.mgmpt.com/id6.html [Accesses 16 November 09]

Lantin,B, 2005, ‘The Point of Good Posture’, The Telegraph [Online],12th December. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness/3334420/The-pointe-of-good-posture.html

Buxton, D, 2008, Understanding Muscle Function and Correct Posture in Ballet [Online], Buzzle.com. Available from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/understanding-muscle-function-and-correct-posture-in-ballet.html [Accessed 17 November 2009]

ISTD Dance Examination Board, 2005, quotes Fontana, D,1995, ‘ISTD Foundation in Dance Instruction Unit 3: Lifespan Development and Learning in Dance, London: ISTD Dance Examinations Board

Buckroyd, J, 2000 quotes White, 1991, The Student Dancer, London: Dance Books Ltd

Descriptive Draft 3

Grade 4 Imperial Ballet students lengthen their spines, making enormous technical improvement!

The girls in the Grade 4 Imperial Ballet class have dramatically improved their once arched spines, lopsided hip placement and relaxed stomachs by following inventive instruction about posture during their lesson. They no longer display the casual posture of a teenage girl during their barré work but are gaining the control to perform the elongated and balanced posture required to present an accomplished technical dancer, aiding the beautiful aesthetic line associated with ballet.

Each week a group of young teenage girls enter the spacious, rectangular hall of Power Academy of Dance, lining up at the barré ready to learn the discipline of classical ballet where they are taken on a journey of wondrous discovery of self and the marvel of the enchanting world of Classical Ballet. On Wednesday the 14th of October the young girls watched in confusion as their teacher slowly removed her inventive teaching tool from her bag, ready to introduce the students to the complex technical requirements of posture. Although at the time they were unaware of how the wooden ruler would help them comprehend what good posture means and what physical position the body had to adopt so that the ideal alignment of the body could be created. The initial response to the teaching tool was met with laughter however when the straight edge was placed down their backs one apprehensive girl at a time, it enabled the students to visualise and feel elongated position of the spine and the internal feeling of the weight placement going up and over. One at a time the teacher went along the barré giving each attentive student individual encouraging feedback by guiding their movements verbally and physically encouraging them to glue their spines to the ruler. Some were able to display a more elongated spine, secure hip placement and engaged abdominals while others struggled to maintain the position once their ruler was removed allowing their curved spine and relaxed posture to return.

This new method of teaching introduced the technical concept of posture in a new and charismatic way, enabling the students to visualise what they are trying to achieve. From a young age children are taught technique through association, they are told to stand up tool and effective imagery is vocalised “stand like princess”, “make sure you don’t burn your bottom or your nose in the toaster” and “don’t let me see those banana backs” instead of using technical jargon

In each forth- coming lesson the girls were reminded at every opportunity to exert the same stance that they experienced in that first lesson and to concentrate on this in all of the exercises. Gentle prods of verbal encouragement were given when a student relaxed their posture and through this repetition of movement the student’s posture technique has vastly improved enabling the students to perform the set arrangements with grace, composure and confidence. The continuation of the development of this elongated extension of the spine, the equalised structure of the plane of the hip bones, the intense involvement of the abdominal muscles, the relaxation of the shoulders and the internal sensation of the weight dispersing up through the body and projecting over has given the students the basic tool to accomplish any of the divinely stunning ballet choreography.

Marketing Draft 3

Grade 4 Imperial Ballet students make astounding improvements!

Parents, just a little note to say...

Power Academy of Dance is proud to announce the technical advances of their Grade 4 Imperial Ballet Students. Substantial breakthroughs have been made since the beginning of October with a number of students displaying improved posture during their ballet class, creating the foundation for superb results in the summer exam session. An enormous achievement by all, parents you should be proud!

The students aged 11-14 began their learning journey on Wednesday 14th of October when the focus on posture was introduced into their lessons. A ‘unique’ teaching tool was used in order for the students to understand what correct posture was in a classical ballet stance and what this felt like within their own bodies. The unique learning tool created a few giggles during the class, giving the students a fun learning experience. Since the initial lesson constant reminders have been given to the students, making sure that they remember the 3 P’s in classical ballet; Posture, Posture, Posture! Before every exercise the students were given a verbal nudge in order to stimulate those synapses used for memory so they could focus their minds and bodies on correct posture, this only has to be practiced a few more hundred times before straight backs override ‘Banana’ backs in their muscle memory. No easy task! At this level posture becomes more than just standing up ‘nice and tall like a princess’ and not getting your bottom burnt in the toaster’ when performing a knee bend, it becomes the foundation of all technique for without it many movements cannot be performed. Alina Cojocaru, principal dancer of The Royal Ballet could certainly not dance the role of Princess Aurora in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ without firm posture as the choreography would simply be impossible.

It was extremely visible in the last class on the 11th of November that the students have made astounding improvements with their posture; keeping their backs long, shoulders down, hips more level and each student has the ability to hold their core muscles for longer than ever before. By having a hands on approach to teaching and by creating a stimulating and enjoyable learning environment while ensuring repetition of technique the students have flourished and each parent should be very proud of their child’s accomplishment. The progression made has enabled the students to become more confident and perform movements with more technical accuracy while also adding a little sparkle to their work. A continuation of this learning and improvement will certainly lead to the children’s best exam results yet and an even more dazzling performance at next year’s dance festival in Bedford ‘Dance 4 all’.

Descriptive- Draft 2

The girls in the Grade 4 Imperial Ballet class have dramatically improved their once arched spines, lopsided hip placement and relaxed stomachs by following inventive instruction about posture during their lesson. They no longer display the casual posture of a teenage girl during their barré work within a ballet class but are gaining the control to perform the elongated and balanced posture required to present an accomplished technical dancers aiding the beautiful aesthetic line associated with ballet.

Each week a group of young teenage girls enter the spacious, rectangular hall of Power Academy of Dance, lining up at the barré ready to learn the discipline of classical ballet where they are taken on a journey of wondrous discovery of self and the marvel of the enchanting world of Classical Ballet. On Wednesday the 14th of October the young girls watched in confusion as their teacher slowly removed her inventive teaching tool from her bag, ready to introduce the students to the complex technical requirements of posture. Although at the time they were unaware of how the wooden ruler would help them comprehend what good posture means and what physical position the body had to adopt so that the ideal alignment of the body could be created. The initial response to the teaching tool was met with laughter however when the straight edge was placed down their backs one apprehensive girl at a time, it enabled the students to visualise and feel elongated position of the spine and the internal feeling of the weight placement going up and over. One at a time the teacher went along the barré giving each attentive student individual encouraging feedback by guiding their movements verbally and physically encouraging them to glue their spines to the ruler. Some were able to display a more elongated spine, secure hip placement and engaged abdominals while others struggled to maintain the position once their ruler was removed allowing their curved spine and relaxed posture to return.

This new method of teaching introduced the technical concept of posture in a new and charismatic way, enabling the students to visualise what they are trying to achieve. From a young age children are taught technique through association, they are told to stand up tool and effective imagery is vocalised “stand like princess”, “make sure you don’t burn your bottom or your nose in the toaster” and “don’t let me see those banana backs” instead of using technical jargon

In each forth- coming lesson the girls were reminded at every opportunity to exert the same stance that they experienced in that first lesson and to concentrate on this in all of the exercises. Gentle prods of verbal encouragement were given when a student relaxed their posture and through this repetition of movement the student’s posture technique has vastly improved enabling the students to perform the set arrangements with grace, composure and confidence. The continuation of the development of this elongated extension of the spine, the equalised structure of the plane of the hip bones, the intense involvement of the abdominal muscles, the relaxation of the shoulders and the internal sensation of the weight dispersing up through the body and projecting over has given the students the basic tool to accomplish any of the divinely stunning ballet choreography.

Marketing- Draft 2

Power Academy of Dance is proud to announce the technical advances of their Grade 4 Imperial Ballet Students. Substantial breakthroughs have been made since the beginning of October with a number of students displaying improved posture during their ballet class, creating the foundation for superb results in the summer exam session. An enormous achievement by all, parents you should be proud!

The students aged 11-14 began their learning journey on Wednesday 14th of October when the focus on posture was introduced into their lessons. A ‘unique’ teaching tool was used in order for the students to understand what correct posture was in a classical ballet stance and what this felt like within their own bodies. The unique learning tool created a few giggles during the class, giving the students a fun learning experience. Since the initial lesson constant reminders have been given to the students, making sure that they remember the 3 P’s in classical ballet; Posture, Posture, Posture! Before every exercise a the students are given a verbal nudge in order to stimulate those synapses used for memory so they could focus their minds and bodies on correct posture, this only has to be practiced a few more hundred times before straight backs override ‘Banana’ backs in their muscle memory. No easy task! At this level posture becomes more than just standing up ‘nice and tall like a princess’ and not getting your bottom burnt in the toaster’ when performing a knee bend, it becomes the foundation of all technique for without it many movements cannot be performed. Alina Cojocaru, principal dancer of The Royal Ballet could certainly not dance the role of Princess Aurora in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ without firm posture as the choreography would simply be impossible.

It was extremely visible in the last class on the 11th of November that the students have made astounding improvements with their posture; keeping their backs long, shoulders down, hips more level and each student has the ability to hold their core muscles for longer than ever before. By having a hands on approach to teaching and by creating a stimulating and enjoyable learning environment while ensuring repetition of technique the students have flourished and each parent should be very proud of their child’s accomplishment. The progression made has enabled the students to become more confident and perform movements with more technical accuracy while also adding a little sparkle to their work. A continuation of this learning and improvement will certainly lead to the children’s best exam results yet and an even more dazzling performance at next year’s dance festival in Bedford ‘Dance 4 all’.

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