by Meghan Keeney | Jun 28, 2021 | Health & Body
Ballet class is pretty predictable: There are always pliés, tendus, dégagés and so forth. Usually before center, the instructor gives a quick stretch break to “do whatever you need.” Many dancers use this time to sink into their splits. But should you be...
by Avichai Scher For Dance Teacher | Jun 9, 2021 | The Latest
A growing Christmas tree. Angels and mice. Flowers and a sugarplum. Snow. Last week, the curtain rose on a festive performance of The Nutcracker…in June? The pandemic has brought all sorts of odd workarounds for dance studios, from virtual classes to outdoor...
by Amy Brandt | Sep 26, 2018 | Ask Amy, Health & Body
I can barely get my leg up to 90 degrees in grand battement, and I still don’t have my splits. How do I become more flexible? — Kassidy I can relate. I struggled with tight hamstrings and hip flexors and had to work hard to get my extensions to an...
by Madeline Schrock | Feb 21, 2018 | Cross-Training, Health & Body
During class, you’re tuned in to every aspect of your dancing. But when the day is over, you may be tempted to head home and skip out on a proper cooldown. Don’t: Going from grand allégro to a full stop is hard on your muscles. Bené Barrera, an athletic...
by Katherine Beard For Dance Spirit | Sep 5, 2017 | Just for fun
For the past decade, Merritt Moore has been living a double life as both a professional ballerina and a quantum physicist. While dancing with Zurich Ballet and Boston Ballet, she received her undergrad degree from Harvard in physics, and she’s currently pursuing...
by Madeline Schrock | Oct 12, 2016 | Cross-Training, Health & Body
This story originally appeared in the October/November 2016 issue of Pointe. You may not understand exactly what causes a tight IT (iliotibial) band, but you’ve probably experienced that uncomfortable tension along the outside of your thigh. While it’s not...
by Candice Thompson | Jul 31, 2016 | Health & Body
This story originally appeared in the August/September 2016 issue of Pointe. It’s a familiar sight on Instagram: A dancer lounges casually in an oversplit, drinking her morning coffee. One foot is propped up on blocks (or even a chair) as her legs split well...
by Jennifer Heimlich | Nov 28, 2001 | Company Life
Can stretching before class hurt your dancing? New science suggests it might. Yesterday, I listened to a recent interview on NPR’s Fresh Air program with The New York Times Phys Ed columnist Gretchen Reynolds, who just came out with a book called The First...