Encouraging core stability development in the young dancer

McCullagh, Catherine RCompN, Core de Ballet, Wellington, New Zealand

Research has shown that establishing core stability before the onset of puberty is vital to the long term injury prevention in the elite dance athlete. Students entering tertiary level training are still showing a lack of stability awareness even though this scientific evidence has been available for some years. 

In part this is due to the fact that the emphasis in private sector dance studios is on syllabus work. Most children attend lessons once a week and parents demand exam sitting as it gives them something to measure their children?s progress by and gives them visible value for money. 

Establishing core stability in young dancers is challenging but not impossible. By incorporating functional and imaginative exercises into the dance class, it is possible to develop core stability without taking too much time away from syllabus work.

This presentation will show practical ways of encouraging core stability development in the pre adolescent dancer.