Differences in Preseason Aerobic Fitness Screening in Professional and Pre-professional Modern Dancers

Abstract

The aerobic demands of today's dance repertoire warrant understanding of the current cardiorespiratory fitness of dancers. The purpose of this study was to compare aerobic fitness levels of professional and pre-professional modern dancers and determine change over time. A retrospective analysis of four groups, two professional, and two pre-professional, was conducted in preseason annual screens, occurring before the professional dancers' rehearsal period and the students' academic training. Resting (HRrest), peak (HRpeak), and recovery (HRrecov) heart rate, and blood pressure (BP) were compared in 577 dancers, using an accelerated 3-minute step test. Smoking, asthma, and aerobic and cross training rates between groups were also compared. A 4 (group) X 2 (gender) MANOVA design determined differences between groups and genders in all dependent variables (p < 0.05). Using a repeated measures ANOVA design, we compared a subgroup over 3 years and one pre-professional group over 4 years. There were differences between groups in systolic BP and all HR variables (p < 0.001). Professional dancers reflected better cardiorespiratory fitness than pre-professional dancers. There were differences between groups in aerobic and cross training activities but no differences in smoking incidence or asthma rates. Pre-professional dancers demonstrated improvement in aerobic fitness over time (p = 0.006) while professionals did not change. Professional dancers display better aerobic fitness, which may reflect their performance demands. Wellness programs appear to enhance fitness in pre-professional dance students over time. Additional aerobic training is recommended for pre-professional modern dance students to prepare them for the performance demands of a professional career.

Ballet and Contemporary Dance Injuries When Transitioning to Full-Time Training or Professional Level Dance: A Systematic Review

“…Two studies have indicated that professional dancers have better aerobic fitness than pre-professional dancers. 31,32 This may suggest that professional dancers are exposed to more appropriate training for their work demands.…”

“…9 This indicates that pre-professional dance training, during which students are primarily exposed to class and rehearsal, may not adequately prepare a dancer for the performance demands of being a professional. It has been shown that professional dancers have better aerobic fitness compared to preprofessional dancers, [31][32] and lesser aerobic fitness levels have been associated with the number of injuries sustained in ballet students. 33 Decreased lower body muscular power has been linked to days lost due to injury in contemporary dance students.…”

Relationship Between Performance Competence and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Contemporary Dance

“…4,8 Indirect links have, however, been drawn between cardiorespiratory fitness and performance ability, through significant differences documented between fitness levels in dancers of different ranks in classical ballet (principals, soloists, first artists, and corps de ballet/ artists) [17][18][19] and in student and professional contemporary dancers. 20 Through the previous body of available literature, the extent to which a dancers' cardiorespiratory fitness level is directly related to the performance ability of that dancer is not all-together clear. It seems that professional dancers, and higher ranked professionals in ballet, have greater cardiorespiratory capacity than students, 5,20 and lower ranked professionals in ballet, [17][18][19] but correlational studies have found no significant relationship between aerobic fitness measures and measures of aesthetic competence.…”

“…20 Through the previous body of available literature, the extent to which a dancers' cardiorespiratory fitness level is directly related to the performance ability of that dancer is not all-together clear. It seems that professional dancers, and higher ranked professionals in ballet, have greater cardiorespiratory capacity than students, 5,20 and lower ranked professionals in ballet, [17][18][19] but correlational studies have found no significant relationship between aerobic fitness measures and measures of aesthetic competence. 4,8 A number of benefits to higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels amongst dancers are seen to exist; however, we are currently only at the beginning of our understanding of how this translates in an individual dancer's outwardly visible skill and overall performance ability.…”

Dietary Iron and the Elite Dancer

“…It was noted that blocks of performances brought about increases in aerobic fitness parameters of professional contemporary dancers [29]. Furthermore, professional contemporary dancers showed higher levels of aerobic fitness than pre-professional students, which is likely a reflection of their greater performing schedules [30]. For dance students, a majority of time is spent developing technique through classwork [31], whereas professional dancers, having already established a solid technical base, spend a larger proportion of their day rehearsing and performing.…”