There are two main points for starting to program the training of a dancer: ANALYSE the dance performance: check what you need and build a training program focusing on your goals and your needs.ASSESSMENT of strength capacity (and more generally the athletic capacities): collect data having a starting point and reference one to build an individualized strength program.

So, what’s the point? When we talk about strength, we need to evidence that there are many features of it. For example, the repetitive nature of dance movement patterns (more than 200 jumps per 1.5 hours of ballet class) requires both types of muscular endurance and either on sustained isometrics or repeated series of muscle contractions. So, the training schedule must be built on the specific strength qualities the dancers need. Indeed, the next step after the analysis of the performance is the assessment of the athletic capacities of the dancers. One of the most efficient ways is to check the strength capacity through the force-velocity profile assessment. This relationship shows the link between the mechanical properties of the neuromuscular system and the global performance functionality. By this assessment, coaches should know if they need to develop high levels of force at low velocities (acting on maximal strength) and/or low levels of force at high velocities (acting at the level of speed).Why should we do this?We should consider dancers as athletes during rehearsals/lessons and as artists on the stage. Therefore, coaches and dance teachers must be prepared to support properly all these phases to improve the dance performance in all the features that it has.

The limit in this process is related to the substantial differences in terms of choreographic requests and phenotypes included in a professional dance company. Like this, the gap that exists between the performance demands made by the choreographer and the technique that is learned during the conventional ballet/dance class will be increased. Larger will be the gap and bigger will be the demand of the dancer to be prepared athletically. While the shorter the gap and more efficient the artistic side of the dance performance will be. As a result, a stronger and healthier body will support and let the artistic side to be the main character on the stage.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
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