Belly Breathing, chest breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth – what’s right? What do we need to know in order to breath efficiently?

How do we distinguish between an injury and the normal “wear and tear” of being a dancer? This is a question that dancers and dance teachers face on a daily basis. We have to constantly evaluate the body’s messages and thus make choices either to rest or to keep going.

We know that you can’t be at your physical best in dance class if you are dehydrated. The more dehydrated you become, the more serious the consequences. In warm weather it is easy to remember to drink some liquid to quench your thirst. There are many choices to choose from. Gatorade, teas, soda, and the list of drinks are endless. Why then, is water so essential?

Being involved in the dance field both as a dance teacher and a movement analyst, I have guided many dancers through their injuries. My focus is as an educator, having a strong belief that if students understand how the body was designed to move anatomically, then they can find the best way for their body to create the beautiful gestures and movements that are asked of them. I have been incredible fortunate to have a very minimal injury history even though I have danced since I was 5 years old. (I'll say no more than more than 40 plus years have passed since then). Recently, I had my first significant injury that took me down a whole new path of being the patient instead of the teacher or therapist and it has been an eye opening experience.