Do I have to run?

Written by: Nikki | 14 April, 2009 | 0 Comments | Make A Comment | Share on Facebook

Does aerobic exercise help dancers perform better, for longer and to push harder?

I have been running for about three years, most recently training with British Military Fitness, and I often wonder what effect those hill sprints, long strides and intervals have on my dance performances.

It is difficult to measure, but it seems that improving my aerobic fitness has increased my levels of efficiency. My ability to assimilate and deliver vocabulary has improved: instead of getting out of breath and losing focus, I can keep hold of the detail and absolute precision of delivery. Of course, there still comes a point where I run out of gas, but that point comes later and I am able to stretch myself further.

And the benefits do not end there. This academic suggests higher levels of fitness help dancers recover from injury. However, he says many dancers do not exercise because of aesthetic considerations and old-fashioned approaches to training.

But it is not just new research that points to the need for higher levels of fitness, but also the continued growth of physical theatre and dance companies, of which All Play is one. The vocabulary and the style of performance make huge demands on artists, so fitness levels need to be high.

Maybe this is preaching to the converted, and this is how most dancers now train. If so, I look forward to seeing you out in the park!

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