Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
That's pretty close lol. Errr not
Realistic expectations vs. limiting oneself
- Thread starter RiseNFall
- Start date
Newdancer81
Active Member
Oh my instructor was on that from the time I first started and emphasizing weight change after the first couple of lessons. I can definitely see instruction difference. I went to a salsa club recently and the "instructor" (who is really only a DJ) and instead of telling people to change weight, he told people to "tap". I guess that's understandable given it's a club as opposed to actual dance instruction.
I want to give an update to this thread, about 9 months later.
I dance better at the moment (at least when things are going well) than I had ever imagined that I could. Part of it, of course, is just time put in and some very talented and dedicated teachers. However, there are some other contributing factors as well. A major one is gradually being more successful at turning off the judgmental part of my thought process while I'm dancing. Sometimes I also turn off the analytical part and leave that to the teacher, but I'm talking about the part that says things like, "that's been corrected so many times, you're never going to do it right" and other such encouraging and cheerful remarks. Generally speaking, a good voice to remove from one's head.
I have more or less embraced the "let's see how good I can get" approach.Another factor has been very carefully analyzing physical issues that have been holding me back and working on them with the help of a chiropractor, etc. Also, a careful and well-targeted exercise program. I injure easily, so the "careful" part is critical.
Practicing "smart" has also been very important. I can only do so much without risking side-lining myself altogether, so i have to think carefully about what and how to practice. Repeating something a few times a day pays off more than I thought it would. Sometimes when I have thought there must be something fundamentally wrong with how I'm doing something, it turns out I just need more practice (which, once more, requires turning off that "you're never going to get it" commentary). Limiting the number of daily reps is actually working better for me.
Having a pro with a good sense of humor helps immeasurably as well.
Can you elaborate further? I've had more injuries with dance than I can count. This year it's been patella not tracking. Last year it was shoulder impingement. I've lost track of the lower back issues. What do you do to stay on track? I am currently following a good PT regimen and I won't set foot in a traditional fitness class for fear of further injury.
raindance
Forum Master
debmc - Are your dance instructors aware of good dance technique as it relates to injury prevention? I've found some coaches/pros/teachers to be very aware (thanks to their own experiences with injuries and working through or around them, and thanks to their own training along the way), and others to be very oblivious (some of these are young and think everyone is invincible, others are just lucky ones who never have dealt with injuries themselves and so have no idea).
As an older dancer myself (and by older, I mean not college age or younger - that's "older" for a serious dance IMO), I think it's critical to be mindful of learning technique that is sound and as safe as possible biomechanically. It's a good idea for the youngsters, too, but they can get away with more sometimes.
Your PT exercises can be good for preventative maintenance of the various areas you've injured previously, so good for you for keeping that up!
FancyFeet
Forum Master
I think it's also on those of us that are not 19 and resilient to know our own bodies. Warm-up, cool down, and plan in enough time for rest. I also suggest learning what structural issues you're working with, and what strength/flexibility imbalances you have... then learn how to work around the structural issues and work diligently on correcting imbalances.
For example - I have an SI joint that likes to slip and pull one of my vertebrae out of place, thanks to my iliolumbar ligament. And when that happens, the stabilizer muscles around my spine tighten up... and when I favour that side, I overwork my QL muscle which tightens and hikes my hip... which makes the SI joint less stable. And so the cycle repeats. I've sprained ankles, hurt my neck (several times), and suffered from tension headaches for years... and now I realize that it was all connected to something happening in my pelvis.
I've been working with a chiropractor to stabilize the joint, and have had to devote some significant time to learning proper alignment to stop favouring the side that pulls - and spend some serious time in the gym to learn how to activate my glutes on that side. 18 months after learning about the issue, I still have a strength imbalance between R and L, have to really concentrate in some movements to not use the wrong muscles, and still have more extension on one side than the other, though the gap is narrowing. I also stretch/roll out some places on a near-daily basis that likely seem pretty odd to some people!
I really couldn't have expected any dance teacher to pick up on this really complicated chain of what was happening. My basic technique was and is pretty solid, and I had a whole lifetime of compensating for a structural issue with some 'interesting' movement patterns. It's on me to put in the work to fix it, and to never, ever skip my warm-up.
For example - I have an SI joint that likes to slip and pull one of my vertebrae out of place, thanks to my iliolumbar ligament. And when that happens, the stabilizer muscles around my spine tighten up... and when I favour that side, I overwork my QL muscle which tightens and hikes my hip... which makes the SI joint less stable. And so the cycle repeats. I've sprained ankles, hurt my neck (several times), and suffered from tension headaches for years... and now I realize that it was all connected to something happening in my pelvis.
I've been working with a chiropractor to stabilize the joint, and have had to devote some significant time to learning proper alignment to stop favouring the side that pulls - and spend some serious time in the gym to learn how to activate my glutes on that side. 18 months after learning about the issue, I still have a strength imbalance between R and L, have to really concentrate in some movements to not use the wrong muscles, and still have more extension on one side than the other, though the gap is narrowing. I also stretch/roll out some places on a near-daily basis that likely seem pretty odd to some people!
I really couldn't have expected any dance teacher to pick up on this really complicated chain of what was happening. My basic technique was and is pretty solid, and I had a whole lifetime of compensating for a structural issue with some 'interesting' movement patterns. It's on me to put in the work to fix it, and to never, ever skip my warm-up.
RiseNFall... Here is a pep talk for you... if you can possibly equate the fantasy sport blitzball to ballroom dance. The Besaid Aurochs... a living, breathing statistical anomaly, go from the worst team in history to winning the World Cup. Final Fantasy? Yes. But still an inspiration.
"What's our goal?"
"To do our best!"
http://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=B...BB50A9&s_chn=prt_dltitle-test-p&v_t=comsearch
"What's our goal?"
"To do our best!"
http://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=B...BB50A9&s_chn=prt_dltitle-test-p&v_t=comsearch
Can I like this three times?
Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
Add in good massage therapy, Active release therapy, Fascial stretch therapy and neurokinetic training and you have my regimen !! I've never had an injury and this is how I prevent them whether it's dancing swimming spartan racing etc. at my advanced age of 56 . Being lean and strong is the base for all of this of course. They don't call it your core for nothing
Coming off an injury from horses some years back, I worked with a yoga therapist - her knowledge of the body and how to address imbalance was phenomenal. Since then I've maintained an almost daily yoga practice and also get on a MELT roller (specific type of foam roller for fascial release) every morning and evening.
I've heard of yoga therapists being quite good! There are so many different movement specialists out there now it's hard to know who to pick!
I have muscle imbalances and injury issues too- my solution has been to work with a personal trainer for strength training and improving balance and flexibility. I do yoga and stretching, and the foam roller is my best friend. Another tool I have is to get deep tissue massage on a somewhat regular schedule. With my work schedule, all of these are challenges. But it has helped a lot to try to stay on top of the wear and tear with my time limitations.
They overlap and good ones have respect for people in other disciplines. When I have been able to work with multiple people, they have all been very interested in what the others have had to say.
I think some of it depends on who you happen to be able to find who is a good fit for you. There is an Alexander Technique guy near me who is excellent and a particularly good fit for me because he is a dancer--baroque, but some of it translates, and I have been able to show him what doesn't. He's been able to work with me to improve dance specific movement. Most people, unfortunately, don't have the patience to so something like that because it sometimes takes a while to see results. Especially at first. An acupuncturist's comment about Alexander Technique was that yes, she could alleviate something, but it was going to keep on coming back it the underlying cause wasn't fixed.