When Pilates was first created by Joseph Pilates, he used several other forms of exercise to develop the original mat. With dance, there are several parallels to be seen in the Pilates principles and as such it is no surprise to learn that the majority of the devotees to Pilates originally, and even today, come from a dancing background.
Dancing at any level, whether for fun or profession, requires the individual to be incredibly ‘body aware’ and to move gracefully. Pilates encourages an increased awareness of the body, particularly how it moves and the effect this has on the whole. It helps the dancer to channel the energy to correct places, at the correct time and most importantly provide a strong yet flexible CORE to move from.
Dancers are stereotyped for being extremely flexible through their joints and trunk. However, with increased flexibility comes increased risk of injury if the soft tissue is not supported throughout the available range of motion. Pilates helps dancers prevent injury by maintaining optimal joint alignment and strength throughout the available range, helping to create a longer, leaner yet stronger muscle. Quite simply, the perfect compliment for any dancer.
