As competition season is well under way, and visions of Nationals dance through young competitors’ dreams, now is also the time to really focus on healthy movement practices. Even as dancers tap in to deeper emotions, the physical expectations placed on young dancers can be very high. Expectations come from many sources, but ultimately the dancer’s own body is affected, either positively by reaching new heights of potential, or negatively in injury.

As a commercial dancer, and then as a dance educator, I saw patterns of dysfunction in myself, and other dancers. I worked through a number of injuries and then shared the best of what I learned with my students. Dysfunctional movement patterns can be corrected when dancers know the best, most efficient ways to do so.

Would you like to achieve more turns consistently? Perform emotionally with abs of steel and no lower back pain? Battement higher and with more control?Then check out three main areas I’ve focused on and how you can not only correct common dysfunctional patterns, but also be your best “performance you” this competition season!