Pilates conditioning protects dancers from injury, improves stamina, and enhances dance performance.
Pilates Sante offers a program for dancers based on Ariel's professional ballet training at the San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the New York School of American Ballet, and her experience with modern, jazz, and salsa dance forms.
Assessment: The first step is a thorough evaluation to assess flexibility, strength, neuromuscular control, and technique. The dancer will then be given an individual program of conditioning exercises plus a supportive home exercise program.
Strengthening: Lack of core strength greatly increases stress on the spine and extremities, increasing the risk for injury. Dancers will be educated and trained in all core muscles, as well as hip and ankle strength to decrease stress on the lower extremities and allow the leg and foot to absorb shock.
Neuromuscular training: Dynamic balance and postural alignment is crucial in dance technique. The dancer will be trained by performing dance-specific movements on pilates equipment and unstable surfaces.
Education:Dancers will be instructed in the safest and most effective stretching and warm up methods, and instructed on active rest, and gradual return from injury or periods of inactivity.
