Balance in Theatrical Dance Performance: A Systematic Review

Abstract

AIM: Due to movement complexity and the use of interdisciplinary styles, all theatrical dance genres require dancers to have excellent balance skills to meet choreographic demands. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the experimental evidence for the relationship between balance and dance performance, including balance testing, balance training, and balance performance. The key focus was on balance and theatrical styles of dance, involving adult participants who were either in full-time dance training or professional dancers. METHODS: The databases MEDLINE, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL), SPORTDiscus, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched using MeSH terms “postural balance,” “balance, postural,” “musculoskeletal equilibrium,” and “postural equilibrium,” and used in combination with “dance,” between 1980 and 2016. PRISMA recommendations were applied in modifications to the search terms. RESULTS: The initial search revealed 1,140 published articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 47 articles were judged to be relevant for further assessment using the GRADE system. Results revealed only 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT); the remaining articles were experimental without randomisation or pre-experimental, thus achieving low scores. A total of 39 articles focused on balance ability, including postural sway and control; 5 were related to multi-joint coordination; and 3 investigated laterality and balance. Female ballet dancers were the most studied population, while a wide range of measurement tools and balance tasks were employed. CONCLUSION: The available material on balance and dance performance is of rather low quality. There is a need for more RCTs and intervention balance studies.

Associations Between Static and Dynamic Field Balance Tests in Assessing Postural Stability of Female Undergraduate Dancers

“…In previous literature, the SEBT, Airplane, Biosway, Romberg, and Pirouette tests have been identified as reliable or accepted balance tasks for the dance population in previous literature 9,14,34,35,36,40 . It is possible that, in past research, assumptions have been made about the functionality of the tests for dancers even though there have been clear differences in test conditions, and no replication of studies, for example, pirouette studies which have included a range of differing turn tasks 9,35,36 .…”

“…To date, screening, research studies, and rehabilitation work with dancers have employed a battery of field balance tests 14 but these tests may have little or no predictive power. The lack of replicated studies in balance research on dancers 13,14 has implications for the conclusions drawn from balance studies. Assumptions on the functionality and relevance of balance tests for dancers are likely to have been made over the years, but reported results may need to be considered within the context of assessed study limitations in the literature 14,48,49 .…”

“…Although, to date, no pirouette tests have been empirically validated 14 , pirouettes are recognised as having functional relevance when measuring dancer's postural stability 28 . Single en dehors pirouettes 28,35,36 were selected for this study replicating the predominant use of en dehors pirouettes in published studies 14 . In the pirouette test, participants were instructed to perform six single en dehors turns consecutively, starting from and returning to, a small open turned out position of the feet with one foot crossed in front of the other (4 th position).…”

“…Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess possible relationships between balance tests assessing static and dynamic balance and to ascertain their relevance to measuring dancers' balance. To assess the association between recognised field balance tests, the researchers selected five field tests used in assessing postural stability of adult dancers who were either in full time dance training or working as professional dancers in theatrical dance genres 14 . Both static and dynamic balance are essential to dance performance, therefore results were compared between static and dynamic balance tests.…”

Salsa Dansçilarinda Ki̇nezyobant Uygulamasinin Dengeye Olan Akut Etki̇si̇

“…Good postural control is one of the basic needs of dancers for a controlled and elegant performance (4). Therefore, improving the proprioceptive system, which is essential for maintaining postural control, may be the key factor for improving a dancer's performance.…”