Transcript The dancer in training

The dancer in training
The Foot
Learning Outcomes
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By the end of the lesson:
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You will have developed an understanding
concerning the key sections of the foot.
Understand how the foot is used within
dance.
Homework
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Using your text book, write down in
your book postural problems and
injuries of the foot (p18). Make notes
on these issues. Also include the
problems associated with pointe work
(p19).
The foot
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The bones of the foot are arched
longitudinally and transversely providing a
flexible platform through which to transmit
weight to the floor and absorb shock.
The Foot
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The many small intrinsic muscles in the foot are layered
to connect the 26 bones in the arches, metatarsals and
phalanges.
These intrinsic muscles are important because they allow
the foot to point strongly with straight toes.
Weak intrinsics will cause the toes to claw, because the
flexor muscles will be over powerful.
Which ballet exercises can
improve the strength of the foot?
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Good practice in dance training aims to
increase strength and suppleness of the feet.
In ballet, exercises such as;
Battement tendu
 Degage
 Frappe
 Releve
Strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the feet.
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Movements performed by the
foot are:
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Plantar flexion – pointing downward
Dorsiflexion – top of the foot points
upwards
Inversion – inner boarder of the foot lifts
Eversion – outer boarder of the foot lifts
Adduction – turns foot inward
Abduction – turns the foot outward
Supination – combines adduction and
inversion
Pronation – combines abduction and
eversion (looks like a flat, duck footed
walk)
Which other muscles help to
move the feet?
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The other muscles which move the foot
start below the knee and connect to the
bones of the foot. These are as
follows;
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MUSCLE
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Anterior Tibial
Posterior Tibial
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Peroneus Longus/Brevis
Flexor Hallucis Longus
Extensor Hallucis
Longus
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ACTION
Plantar flexion of the foot –
pointing or rising
Plantar flexion of foot – rising
onto demi pointe in plie
Dorsiflexes and inverts the foot
Plantar flexes and inverts the
foot
Plantar flexes and everts
the foot, gives lateral
stability to ankle
Flexes big toe, helps to stabilise
inside of ankle
Extends big toe and assists in
dorsiflexion of foot.
Task, what is my foot doing?
Task: What is my foot doing?
The sections of the foot
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The foot is split into 3 sections to
aid stepping: forefoot, midfoot
and hindfoot.
This forms 3 arches: inner,
longitudinal and transverse arch.
We notice these 3 sections when
we walk, run or jump.
Strong, flexible feet are one of
the dancer’s most valuable
assets!!.
The hindfoot (tarsus)
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The tarsus section of the foot is made up of 7
bones: talus (ankle), calcaneus (heel),
cuboid, navicular & 3 small cuneiform bones
In correct alignment, the lower leg
(tibia/fibula) rests on the talus on the same
medial line as the ball of the foot
This means that when you plie the knee
should align over an imaginary line extending
out from the middle toes. This is crucial for
safe landing in jumps.
The midfoot
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The midfoot consists of the navicular,
cuboid and three cuneiform bones.
The forefoot (Metatarsus)
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The metatarsus consists of 5 long
metatarsals and leads to the toes,
which are the phalanges.
The foot
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Has several arches for normal
function.
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Medial longitudinal arch: from
heel to heads of metatarsals.
Lateral longitudinal arch: from
heel to head of the 5th
metatarsal.
Transverse arch: is under the ball
of the foot along the head of the
metatarsals.
Metatarsal arch: dome-shaped,
and running across the front
heads of the metatarsal bones.
The metatarsal arch
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Is supported by ligaments and lumbrical
muscles.
The 2 most important ligaments in the
foot are;
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The spring ligament (between calcaneus
and navicular)
The plantar ligament (between calcaneus
to cuboid and the 3 middle metatarsals)
Why are the arches important?
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The arches give the foot its strength and
flexibility and allow it to withstand the shocks
involved during weight transference.
If arches collapse then serious misalignments
occur not only in the foot but also in the rest
of the body.
A collapsed medial arch leaves a pronated
foot and the foot rolls in on the inner border
(eversion).
The use of the foot in different
dance genres.
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In classical ballet the foot is normally
plantar flexed (pointed).
Whereas in modern dance the foot is
often dorsi-flexed.
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It should be noted that in classical ballet
wherever the foot is not plantegrade and
weight bearing it is plantarflexed conveying a
length of line and endlessness characteristic
with the expression of the openness of
classical dance.
The use of the joint gives it a lighter ethereal
quality whereas in contemporary dance the
dorsiflexed foot is used to break the line and
give it a jagged quality. This closeness to the
ground gives it a more real and earthy
quality.
In conclusion
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The foot is one of a dancers most important
assets. Unfortunately feet experience a lot
of strain due to the athleticism involved in all
dance genres.
They must be looked after in order to avoid
injury, such as broken bones, sprains and
strains.
Why not try to vary the use of your feet in
your choreography, have you tried
dorsiflexion as well as plantar flexion?