Royal Ballet School research appears to be like to cut back threat of accidents to dancers


The Royal Ballet School is to work with sport scientists on a analysis undertaking to see how energy coaching might cut back the chance of accidents to younger dancers.

Around 90 college students on the elite college, which prepares younger folks for careers with main dance firms, will full a collection of energy checks as a part of the research, as a result of end in early 2025.

The checks are designed to measure energy qualities that underpin dance efficiency.

One of the college’s energy and conditioning coaches, Jamie Harding, is main the undertaking, working with the University of Essex as a part of his PhD.

Researchers will search to find out the athletic profile of the female and male dancers, aged 16 to twenty, and set up coaching methods that optimise their efficiency.

The last a part of the research will evaluate the effectiveness of a single resistance coaching session per week in opposition to three resistance coaching classes per week, all together with the scholars’ dance schooling, to establish how finest to design a weekly schedule.

Mr Harding stated: “Ballet is unique in that it is an aesthetic art and a high-performance sport – with exacting competing demands.

“Dancers perform feats that are unimaginable to mere mortals and our research will make sure their bodies are up to the gruelling demands

“The world of ballet training is changing and I’m excited to help develop sports science in this elite world.

“Through this research, we’ll help The Royal Ballet School optimise training techniques to ensure their students can maximise their undeniable potential.”

The research will give attention to energy coaching and the way it can help younger dancers to rehearse and carry out safely and successfully as they mature.

Supervisor Dr Louis Howe, a lecturer within the college of sport, rehabilitation and train sciences on the University of Essex, stated: “Elite dancers face similar physical challenges to those of elite athletes, and it’s essential that they possess the physical preparedness necessary to withstand the associated stresses.

“That’s where strength and conditioning support can be helpful, as it can reduce the risk of injuries while improving performance.

“Our research aims to find the best ways to optimise the techniques used by practitioners to achieve these goals.

“Ultimately, we hope our findings will help elite dancers improve their physical preparedness and reach their peak performance levels.”

The Royal Ballet School’s head of healthcare, Karen Sheriff, stated analysis was “hugely integral to us as a world-leading organisation”.

The analysis will construct on the ballet college’s current programme, which collects information on dancers to know the important thing phases in a pupil’s development and improvement – each bodily and psychological – as they steadiness tutorial work with an elite inventive schooling and a complete supportive coaching programme.



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