My next posts will be a series, detailing the responses from my professional circle:
1:
Are there generic weakness in dancers? If so, are the patterns
that emerge general, age based, physique based,
continentally genetic, or something else. Are these
weakness related to the dancers strength/flexibility ratios and could
they contribute towards common faults.
Teacher
1 (Vocational College Principal, Higher level quals ISTD)
Bone
structure can be generic throughout a family and this would affect
flexibility e.g. shape of hip socket and also height - may end up too
tall or short. Back shape, feet shape and then think about
what you do in your body to try and get the right shape and knock on
problems from muscular imbalance and other things (think about some
of the things you have done to correct over the years that have then
given you problems! Diseases could be generic - not sure which
ones - but that would obviously affect and may be kick in at certain
ages. The build of japanese/chinese seem to be smaller and
often very flexible - not sure if that is to do with continentally
genetic or just to do with their training. Probably need
a good knowledge of anatomy for this one.
Teacher
2 (Expat teacher)
No
Answer
Teacher
3 (Teacher currently studying at DDE level)
Obviously
everyone is different, everyone has different levels of flexibility
but generally from my classes iv only noticed that the teenage years
are one of the worst for flexibility unless they stretch at home or
in another club. Iv got big and small kids but that doesn't seen to
make a difference, in fact some of my bigger girls are better than
the thin ones! Also, Dunno if it's relevant but iv never had a
dancer/class that could turn well, dunno of you would count that as a
generic weakness??
Teacher
4 (Dance Studio Principal, higher level quals RAD)
Yes, Lack
of turn out. Lack of strength- muscle fibre type, lack of line,
posture-structure of joints and alignment, in ability to shape arms,
in ability maintain shapes while transitions through levels. Lines of
feet and the effect it has upon, jumping or pointe work.
It
depends on what is being discussed. For example: Lines of the
feet- Asians have traditionally flat feet. This causes problems with
their ability to jump and control lowerings. Suspension within the
air. It creates a poor line both en L’air, ( whenever the foot is
off the floor!,) and even en Pointe. The line never seems to be
concluded…… However, the traditional caucasian, over arched
foot can actually cause similar problems. (There problems can
also be seen as age related- as long as they are caught
and trained early enough.) Feet with high arches can be weak and
thus causing all the same problems as flat feet.
Lack
of turn out, can also be covered through all the categories,
genetics, age, but again also continentally. Most asians have bowed
legs which distort any type of line which can not be alerted.
Posture- is a genetic and continental
problem. It depends on structure of joints and alignment, as well as
general practices that different cultures do regularly which affect
the ligaments and therefore posture.
I
think generally all Genetics, physique based and continentally
reasons for most generic problems can be inter-related. Issues such
as ability to shape arms, muscle strength, understanding of posture,
line, transitions through levels can all also be age related- both
maturity and physical readiness.
Over
stretched muscles lack strength which has detrimental effects upon,
posture, line, allegro, balance- Everything. It can also be the same
problem for dancers who are on the other end of the spectrum and have
poor posture due to the lack of flexibility within their hip flexes.
Poor line due to tight hamstrings and lower back.
Feedback from Tutor
Here we can see that the inquirer is trying to get at whether we can find a broadly agreeable notion of whether particular aspects of training and/or practice lead to particular effects in terms of weakness. The question itself acknowledges that there may be no absolute truth, but that there may be ‘typical’ consequences.
...the above example is answerable and carries all sorts of helpful framing
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