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Nutrition For The Dancer: Emily’s Apple And Pumpkin Oatcakes

February 14, 2012 by 4dancers

Today I’d like to introduce Emily Harrison, who is sharing a great healthy recipe with us here at 4dancers, as well as talking a bit about nutrition. Part of our health/wellness focus for the month of February. I haven’t had a chance to make the recipe yet, but it sounds delicious and I can’t wait to try it!

Emily Harrison, MS, RD, LD, Photo by Kim Kenney

I am thrilled to be guest blogging with  4dancers.org. As a former professional dancer I learned early on in my career how important nutrition was to my performance. Now as the dancers dietitian, I work with dancers to help them be at their best with fewer injuries.

Nutrition is a complicated science, but if I had to only give one piece of advice it would have to be: “eat breakfast”. I know you all have heard this before, but you can’t minimize the importance of literally breaking the fasting state with a good source of complex carbohydrates.

Carbs have gotten a bad rap in recent years. But in fact carbs are the body’s preferred source of fuel for athletic activity. Complex carbs in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits give the muscles a prolonged source of energy that is critical in the type of start-stop activity we do as dancers. Whole grains are important sources of fiber, B-vitamins, iron, and folate. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that athletes get 55-60% of their total calories from carbohydrates. Carbs can be found in whole grain pasta, bread, rice, quinoa, barley, all vegetables and all fruits. How can something like that be unhealthy? Sure we want to avoid simple sugars in sweets, juices, soda, refined grains, and baked goods. Those kind of carbs won’t give you enough energy to get through tendus in class. But have three of my oatcakes for breakfast and dance strong all the way through grande allegro.

This recipe has become a favorite of the dancers that I do food demos for. In fact the dancers from Atlanta Ballet’s summer program loved them so much that they set off the fire alarms in the dorms making them the next day: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Nutrition, Recipes/Snacks Tagged With: atlanta ballet, boston ballet II, boston ballet school, center for dance education, dancers dietitian, dancers nutrition, emily harrison, nutrition for dancers

Dancer Spotlight: Lisa Barrieau

January 30, 2012 by 4dancers

Today we’re introducing a new feature at 4dancers–the “Dancer Spotlight”. We’ve gotten such great feedback on our “10 Questions With…” series that we thought it might be fun to do a series of shorter “interviews” with dancers as well. These will pop up from time to time, and dancers will answer a few interesting questions in a more abbreviated format.

Today we have Lisa Barrieau with us from Atlanta Ballet…

Lisa Barrieau, photo courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

What is the best advice you have ever received from a teacher or mentor regarding dance?

The best advice I ever received from a teacher was: Dancing is something that people only dream of doing… the day you wake up not wanting any part of it anymore is the day you should stop. Until then, work as hard as you can to fulfill your passion.

Do you have any advice for dancers who want to go on to a professional career?

Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t be a professional because there is a company out there for everyone as long as you fight for it and accept the challenge.

Do you have a special routine you go through prior to a performance?

Before every performance, I say a little thank you to my grandpa who passed away. Without him I wouldn’t have started dancing as a kid and I want him to know that I am dancing for him.

What is your favorite ballet and why do you enjoy it?

My favorite ballet of all time is Michael Pink’s Dracula. I love the choreography and music. I think I also love that Dracula is such a passionate and misunderstood character and Michael Pink’s ballet helps to illustrate it. It is definitely not your typical ballet.

What do you enjoy most about your life in dance?

I love the people I work with and I love that, unlike other careers, I get to wake up and go to work and be something I am not… be a peasant or a vampire, a princess or a goblin… I get to express myself through movement in a way that so many can’t fathom.

BIO: A native of Milwaukee, WI, Lisa started dancing at the age of four and continued training in Connecticut with New Haven Ballet School and Joyce DiLauro. Her additional studies include intensives with Boston Ballet School, American Academy of Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet School, where she was offered a contract into Nancy Einhorn’s Milwaukee Ballet II program. There, she danced the role of Blue Fairy in Bruce Well’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was seen in Antony Tudor’s Offenbach in the Underworld, and Michael Pink’s The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty. In 2009, Lisa joined Minnesota Ballet where she performed the roles Lustful Virgin in Agnes De Mille’s Three Virgins and a Devil, and Zulme in Giselle. Last season, Lisa danced with Milwaukee Ballet and performed in Edgar Zendejas’ world premiere of Mara in the International Choreographic Competition. Lisa’s career has offered her the chance to dance works by Alvin Ailey, Kee-Juan Han, Jose Limón, Trey McIntyre, Adam Miller, Pilobolus, Twyla Tharp, and Chet Walker. Lisa is looking forward to her first season with Atlanta Ballet and she thanks her family for all of their love and support.

Filed Under: Dancer Spotlight Tagged With: atlanta ballet, Ballet, dancer, dancer interview, Lisa Barrieau

“The Perfect Arch” by Dr. Sinkoe

January 19, 2012 by 4dancers

Today we bring you the first in a series of articles for 4dancers by Dr. Sinkoe, a podiatrist from Georgia who works with the Atlanta Ballet. He was kind enough to share some thoughts on the best ways to help strengthen and improve your arch. Look for additional information from Dr. Sinkoe this month and next month on subjects such as warts and bruised toenails...

Dancers are always looking for ways to obtain that “perfect arch”.  Every foot is genetically designed differently and not everybody will be able to achieve that “perfect arch”.  Stretching and flexibility exercises are always helpful.  However, I caution those that are attempting to achieve this position with the use of spring-loaded devices or placing their foot under the couch or other furniture to try to stretch the ligaments at the top of the foot.  The midfoot joints are supported by strong ligaments and will allow the bones of the midfoot to only glide up and down.  Attempting to make the midfoot joints act as hinge joints will injure the ligaments.  If the ligaments are overstressed they can become weakened which can result in a sprained ligament or a subluxed joint.

The most effective method to strengthen the arch is to strengthen the foot muscles which stabilize the toes.  These muscles are located on the bottom of the foot.  Exercises to contract these muscles will flex the arch, giving you a dome appearance, thus the name “doming exercises”.  Strong foot muscles will also reduce the incidence of tendonitis and metatarsal stress fractures.  Experienced dancers will learn to use these muscles to stabilize themselves on pointe rather than depending on the pointe shoe to do the work.

Exercises for foot strength: [Read more…]

Filed Under: 4dancers, Dance Wellness, Foot Care, Pointe Shoes Tagged With: atlanta ballet, Ballet, dr. sinkoe, exercises for the arch, frank sinkoe dpm, perfect arch, pointe shoes

Dance In The US: California Dance Arts

February 6, 2010 by 4dancers

Dance in the US continues with sunny California…

 

Name: California Dance Arts

Location: Foothill School Complex, 4490 Cornishon Ave. #6, La Canada, CA 91011

About: Associated with the California Contemporary Ballet, the Academy has been around since 1987. The studios are top-notch, featuring 20-foot ceilings, sprung floors, air conditioning and state-of-the-art theatre lighting. Students from the school have gone on to dance at places such as American Ballet Theater, Pittsburg Ballet and Atlanta Ballet, among others.

The site for the school offers a very informative article, titled, “Six Things To Consider Before Choosing A Dance School” that is a terrific read for any parent who is thinking about dance lessons for their child. The faculty there have good credentials, and the founder and school director, Erin Holt has a pretty impressive background as well–especially in Modern dance.

Learn more about this school by checking out their blog.

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Filed Under: Dance In The US Tagged With: adacemy, american ballet theater, atlanta ballet, california contemporary ballet, california dance arts, erin holt, pittsburg ballet

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