Why is Pilates so beneficial for dancers?
The dance and Pilates community have been deeply intertwined since Joseph Pilates and his wife Clara moved to New York city in 1926. His space was in the same building as the School of American Ballet as well as the New York City Ballet. Which resulted in a long lasting relationship for dancers with the purpose of conditioning and rehabilitation.
It can be a powerful tool for cross training! Pilates develops deep core stability, creates balanced muscle development, and improves flexibility in a dynamic way. By aiding controlled extension, improving jumps and turnout it is great for a dancer's improvement. On the other hand, it protects joints and prevents injuries from overuse.
Pilates also helps to improve spinal alignment which is extremely useful in a dancer's desire to elongate their movement and create beautiful lines. Strength around the spine is equally as important when trying to make shapes and hold posture.
The low-impact conditioning is also extremely beneficial to a dancer. Dancers will often overwork muscles due to repetition of movement and stress on the joints and muscles. Low impact conditioning is a great way to build strength without the extra mileage on the body!
Neuromuscular control is also a great benefit to dancers. The mind body connection is imperative for a dancer and is a huge factor to their improvement. I like to think that the mind muscle connection is what blends art and athleticism. The creativity that lives in the mind and body can be expressed through the strength and power of the muscles.
Overall, Pilates and dance have a beautiful partnership and have been linked for many years for good reason. The practices feed off of each other and make each other even better than they already were.
