The Effect of Conditioning on the Height of Dancer's Extension in à la Seconde

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to document the effects on the height of the gesture leg in dancer's extension in à la seconde (the combined actions of hip flexion, external rotation, and abduction) following a six-week regimen of conditioning aimed specifically at the hip flexors. Sixteen intermediate and advanced college age female dancers in a university dance program were invited to participate as a convenience sample on a volunteer basis. The subjects were divided in half, eight serving as the control group and eight serving as the treatment group. The control group continued their usual dance regimen for the six-week period. The treatment group added five minutes of therapeutic exercise three times per week following their usual dance regimen for the six-week period. T-tests served to compare the pre-test and post-test scores for the control and experimental groups. There was a significant difference in the mean height of the gesture leg in the experimental group (+ 6.25 inches, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean height of the gesture leg in the control group. Extra conditioning targeting hip flexion has been shown to be beneficial in this small sample of intermediate and advanced university dancers. Potentially, adequate strength in this vital area of the dancer's body may enhance performance and help reduce compensations that can lead to injury.

Effects of Plyometric Training versus Traditional Weight Training on Strength, Power, and Aesthetic Jumping Ability in Female Collegiate Dancers

“…5,11 Strength training has also been shown to positively affect strength-related dance movements such as height of extension á la seconde and arabesque. 13,14 While it was beyond of the scope of this study to examine changes in extension height, the applicability of weight training to dance jump performance was demonstrated through the improvements in subjective rating of jumping skills for the dancers in the weight training group.…”

“…Similar results have been repeatedly demonstrated in previous investigations. 5,11,13 This presents a powerful case for the use of supplemental training to improve physiological variables related to dance. Having superior physical fitness allows the dancer to focus on the artistry of the movement instead of simply trying to complete the exercise without becoming exhausted or injured.…”

“…Though dance is primarily aesthetic, it has been shown that basic improvements in strength and power can be useful in improving dancing ability. [11][12][13][14] This study found that plyometric training is effective in improving leg press strength and standing vertical jump height. Additionally, traditional weight training improved leg press and leg curl strength as well as mean anaerobic power as measured by a Wingate test.…”

“…[7][8][9][10] However, little research has been done on the response of dancers to traditional strength training programs. [11][12][13][14] Grossman and Wilmerding 13 reported that a low intensity program designed to train the hip flexors elicited a mean increase of six inches in the height of a leg extension a la secondè (the combined hip actions of flexion, abduction, and external rotation). This study demonstrates that supplemental strength training can positively affect technical dance ability.…”