Healthy Dancer Canada Conference September 13, 2014 Vancouver, BC - PDF document

Healthy Dancer Canada Conference September 13, 2014 Vancouver, BC Presenter: Mariah-Jane Thies Mariahjanethies.com (please check website after Oct 6 th once updates with upcoming workshops are complete) 604-315-2638/ email: espirit39@hotmail.com The Missing link in the Foundations of Dance Training Traditional Foundations of Dance Training: Strength Flexibility Coordination Connectivity Missing Link: Brain Integration Traditional dance training has been developing over the years with a great deal of focus on safely developing the strength and flexibility of the dancer. More and more dance teachers are working with health care professionals to learn more about safe training and there are many great professionals who enjoy working with dancers. This is an exciting and positive trend in the training of dancers. While coordination is indeed addressed in the training of dancers it is often over looked as the missing link required for the functional and artistic use of the acquired strength and flexibility. The concept of connectivity is also gaining ground, originating within the modern dance community, especially those that have exposure to the Bartenieff Movement Fundamentals. Many members of the ballet community are open to embracing these concepts from the modern community. There is, however, one area of training that is, as of yet, undiscovered in the dance community; Brain Integration . Without integration across the corpus callosum (the brain bridge) of both of the brain hemispheres, the dancer is unable to perform at her best, including suffering through poor coordination, muscle tension leading to injuries, inflexibility and lack of artistic freedom. Un-integrated dancers will also find core support elusive and suffer from a host of typical dancer struggles such as hyperextended knees, weight back and tension in the shoulders and back affecting weight placement and expressivity. Compounding an un-integrated state would be if the primitive and postural reflexes are not integrated. The dancer will struggle without apparent reason as the active reflexes interfere with the intentions of

the dancer and the dan cer will appear to never “remember” a correction that has been given numerous times, causing frustration for all a and lowering of self-esteem in the dancer. Signs of a “ Un- integrated” state: -Poor coordination -Muscle tension/imbalance leading to injuries -Inflexibility; both in body and mind -Lack of confidence, participation and artistic expression -Weight back despite continuous work to correct -Hyperextended knees , “weak” ankles, tight hips -Anteriorly tilted pelvis -Ungrounded state -Lack of ballon in allegro -Struggles with posture and head placement -Challenges with turns and quick to become dizzy Signs of Good Integration: -Ease and fluidity of movement -Confidence in abilities and willingness to perform -Ease with correct posture and weight placement -Grounded and secure -Flexible and strong -Artistically open and willing to fully participate ***All the great teaching in the world, with the best imagery, thorough knowledge and most encouraging environment will not allow for true learning if the learner is in an Un-Integrated State. What is Brain Integration? When fully integrated, there is a network of communication through all parts of the brain, allowing for full and balanced access to all of our skills and positive attitudes. We are able to think, plan, communicate, sense and feel, and fully participate in life. The 3 Dimensions of Intelligence: Laterality, Centering, Focus Laterality Dimension: Brain Gym Mid-Line Movements Right/Left Hemisphere Integration Thinking, Processing and Communicating Centering Dimension: Brain Gym Deepening Attitudes and Energizers Top to Bottom Integration (Limbic to Neo-Cortex) Feeling, Stabilizing and Organizing Focus Dimension: Brain Gym Lengthening Activities Front to Back Integration (Brain Stem to Pre-Frontal Lobes) Sensing, Participating and Comprehending

Experiential Learning Activities: Brain Integration and its effect on Sickling Right Brain Hemisphere controls the left side of the body AND the Right toes , excluding the big toe Left Brain Hemisphere controls the right side of the body AND the Left toes , excluding the big toe When the brain is under some stress and operating from a homo-lateral pattern than the toes will fire without the addition of the big toe, causing a sickle. Experience: a Sickle on a Rise in parallel Do you feel like you have to think and recruit strength in order to rise correctly? Perform: 10-20 Cross Crawls with variations including front, back and side surfaces of the body Experience: A Rise in parallel Is it easier to be properly aligned? Are you able to rise correctly without conscious thought? Moro Reflex Integration as the Key to true “Core Support” Core Support: The difference between strength and integration True core support requires communication between, responsiveness and elasticity of the abdominal muscles. Core support is not just about the strength of the muscles to do work such as sit-ups, but instead about the ability for the abdominals to be able to respond almost reflexively to the needs of the movement. If the dancer is locked in either the expanding or the contracting phase of the Moro reflex, communication through the core is impeded or fully blocked, and full respiration is also blocked. Isometric Integration Procedure: A. Lie in a supine position. Bend the legs and lift the feet from the floor. Cross the arms and press lightly on the knees while resisting with the legs and lifting the head upward breathing out for 7 seconds. Repeat 6-7 times. B. Lie in the same position, cross the arms and pull from the knees lightly while resisting with the legs and pressing your head slightly backward breathing out for 7 seconds. Repeat 6-7 times. Fight or Flight Pattern of the Tendon Guard Reflex The Tendon Guard Reflex protects the tendons from too much tension in the fight or flight pattern. The result a retained TGR, due to a stress that is felt as threatening, may be difficulties straightening the legs if the hamstring and calf muscles are tense or bending them if the muscle of the front of the thigh is tense. Short calf muscles can also cause toe walking and limited ability to bend. Rigidity of the toes may be caused by prolonged stress. Signs of a Retained Tendon Guard Reflex in Dance: Tight/limited plie and lack of ballon Tight hamstrings, quads and psoas (causing anterior pelvic tilt) Tight ankles, arches and toes Stiff back; lack of fluidity

Rhythmic Movement Training and Brain Gym Support to Release TGR: -Calf Pump -Foot Flex -The Grounder -Principle of muscle spindling -Various RMT movements to release tension, including sloshing Calming and Focusing: Hook-ups: Part I: Cross right leg/ankle over left tightly so ideally they touch, and then cross right hand over left to be able to hold hands by rotating inwards, then loop the hands down and towards the body to finish resting on the sternum with the fingers interlaced -allow the tongue to rest gently on the roof of the mouth just behind the teeth -press the tongue flat up to the roof of the mouth on inhalation and allow it to relax down on exhalation -take several deep breaths then switch to other leg/arm on top -Can be done standing, sitting or lying down, with eyes open or closed for more of a vestibular challenge Part II: feet planted in parallel 2nd with finger tips of both hands touching right in front of the sternum, look at hands and breath Mariah-Jane Thies: Who am I?  Certified Evans Laban Based Modern Instructor  RAD Registered Ballet Teacher, Mentor and Supervisor  Brain Gym Licenced Consultant  RMT (Rhythmic Movement Training) Licensed Consultant  GMCC Dance Teacher Degree  Reiki Level II Practionier  27 Years Teaching Experience in Dance, including ballet (RAD and open), modern, jazz, creative dance, musical theatre, tap, conditioning for dancers and Burlesque  Former professional musician and music teacher in piano and clarinet ***In my years of teaching I have always strived to find answers rather than becoming frustrated either with my own body, or with my student’s bodies, attention, focus, memory, behaviour, etc. I have always been led by the belief that there is an answer and that we just need to keep asking the right questions. I also believe that given ideal circumstances every student wants to learn, fully participate and do their best and if that appears to not be the case, then there is a block somewhere and as the teacher it is my duty and honour to help to the willing (and sometimes less than willing) student to remove those blocks. Call to Action!! I believe that RMT and Brain Gym hold many of the keys to releasing the blocks and allowing students to return to their best: an integrated stated. Please contact me if you would like to be part of an upcoming session of RMT & Brain Gym for Dance Teachers or to book a private consultation and reflex assessment. Email: espirit39@hotmail.com **I am happy to send to you a dancers checklist regarding possible retained reflexes.