Parts of the body

engaged ballet dance

Prepared by: Annie R. Susaya
What muscles strengthen when
performing ballet?
 A typical ballet class is designed to help students
perfect their postural alignment.
 It increase muscle and joint flexibility and build
essential muscular strength.
 It is extremely demanding physically, and dancers
need to identify and engaged certain muscles as
they work through a logical series of exercise.
Quadriceps and Hamstrings
 Ballet dancers appreciate the aesthetic quality of
a straight leg line. They work hard to consistently
achieve long and high leg extensions.
 Dancers typically develop strong quadriceps,
muscles that assist with full knee extension and
hip flexion.
 Dancers understand the functional advantage of
deep knee bends.
Hip and Gluteal Muscles
 Turnout of the legs at the hip socket is a key
element of classical ballet technique.
 Dancers use their external hip rotator and gluteal
muscles to rotate their legs outward and to
sustain that rotation during leg extensions, leaps
and turn.
Calves and Feet
 Ballet dancers strengthen the muscles of their
lower legs and feet everytime they point or rise
onto their toes.
 Exercises at the barre that emphasize plantar
flexion require a dancer to engage calf muscles
and work slowly through her feet to the floor as
resistance.
Back and Core
 Ballet dancers rely heavily on their abdominal,
back and pelvic muscles to provide essential
stability.
 They train themselves to keep those muscles
engaged throughout every pose, turn, leap and
jump.
 Tightening the core muscles helps a dancer
maintain proper alignment and balance .