Strengthening Dance Muscles

Photo Source: https://www.muellersportsmed.com/blog/post/why-is-strengthening-your-core-muscles-important

Alright, maybe today, you are not running around competing in competitions, the way you used to. One day, you will again! We’ve all had to adjust our daily activities during the pandemic. Meanwhile, most of us know, we’ve got to keep moving and exercising. I would like to center on developing muscles, something that is not dissected and discussed, too much. Keeping your muscles working, will always be your best bet to staying toned while developing long lasting stamina!

Photo Source: https://www.hcdance.com/building-strength-male-dancers/

Whether you realize it or not, when you are competing in a competition, you are using muscle power. It is one of the key factors in taking you to the highest level of dance. Look at ballet dancers. Without their many years of training, they could not perform in front of an audience. It takes years of muscle development to stand on your toes! The same goes for ballroom dance. Ballroom dancers use all of their muscles in their legs, feet, thighs and calves, in all of the dance routines. Muscles also help you with balance and holding positions.

Photo Source: https://www.openfit.com/hip-workouts-exercises

Let’s now discuss what type of exercises are ideal for building muscle, as well as centering on hip and core movement that is so important in ballroom dancing.

Jogging

Running

Stretches

Push Ups

Lunges

Squats

Crunches

Sit-ups

Deadlifts

Leg Curls/Presses

Weight training

You can do most of these exercises, inside or outside of your home. There is more than enough information out there on how to do them properly. The Internet is overflowing with exercises, made for dancers! There are so many options in the equipment you can use to enhance your routines, such as weights, jump ropes, resistance bands, kettlebells, just to name a few things.

Photo Source: https://www.westernwhitetail.com/strengthening-your-archery-muscles/

Of course, nothing is wrong, practicing the dances you already know and love to do, as an excellent workout! During this downtime, catch some of your favorite dance teachers, out there, putting ZOOM and other video sources to work, offering online dance classes free or for small fees. No matter what, while you are waiting to get out on that competition floor again, nothing could be better than perfecting your performance with strength, peak muscle tone and synchronized mind and body connection. You will be more than prepared, when those doors open again!

**We have received contributions from individuals who would like to have a dear relative or friend who passed on remembered that loved to dance or was a dance aficionado. We call these memorial contributions. Perhaps you would like to have someone memorialized in this manner. Make a donation and give us their name. We have on our website a yellow brick road to engrave their name to a brick as a memorial to that person. This contribution will assist future generations of dancers and help keep young people more positive and healthy.

Thought Of The Week:

If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your path – Buddha