The aim of this study was to ascertain current perceptions of strength training (ST) in dance from the viewpoint of the professional dancer, dance teacher, and student dancers across dance genres. A total of 168 responses (149 females, 19 males) to the modified Training Information Survey (TIS) were analyzed for differences in perceptions of ST between dance students, professional dancers, and dance teachers. Some significant differences were found between professionals and teachers (p > 0.05) and between students and teachers (p > 0.001). In all instances, dance teachers were less likely to agree with the following: ST is essential to my overall development as a dancer, women should participate in ST, men should participate in ST, ST should be part of every training program regardless of dance style, ST is beneficial to women, and ST increases bodyweight. It is evident that perceptions of ST still vary across the dance sector, and it is postulated that further education for dancers on the role ST has to play on the development of a dancer would help to break down barriers to participation. From this investigation, it can also be concluded that the perception that dancers have a fear of muscle hypertrophy and a negative impact on aesthetics is no longer widely prevalent, although it still permeates throughout the dance sector.
Dance with the older body is often viewed as a means to slow the physiological and cognitive decline associated with ageing or chronic health conditions. However, little research has investigated the aesthetic qualities and performance potential of mature dancers and how this might influence health outcomes. During a choreographic project bringing together a renowned contemporary dance company with one of mature dancers, a co-designed, mixed-methods approach was taken to explore the impact of a somatically informed approach to choreography on the dancers’ movement quality, efficiency and performance aesthetics. Quality-of-life measurements showed no significant differences between pre- and post-choreographic project, although high scores suggested good overall health amongst participants. Subjective changes in movement quality were observed alongside improvements in balance ability ascribed to the inward focus of the somatically informed creative process. Participants commented that they were able to achieve more, physically and aesthetically, than they had previously believed possible.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.