Kinematic Analysis of Postural Stability During Ballet Turns (pirouettes) in Experienced and Novice Dancers.

Chai-Wei Lin,Cheng-Feng Lin,Fong-Chin Su

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2019.00290

Chai-Wei Lin, Cheng-Feng Lin + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00290

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Abstract

Turning is an important but difficult movement, often performed in ballet choreography. Understanding the postural sway during ballet turns is beneficial to both dancers and dance teachers alike. Accordingly, this study evaluated the postural sway angle during ballet turns in female novice and experienced ballet dancers by means of the inclination angle, determined from the center of mass (COM) and center of pressure (COP). Thirteen experienced dancers and 13 novice dancers performed ballet turns (pirouettes). The COM-COP inclination angle was measured during the preparatory, double-leg support, and single-leg support phases of the turn. The novice dancers exhibited significantly greater ranges of the COM-COP inclination angle in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions during the preparatory (AP direction, p < 0.001; ML direction p = 0.035), double-leg support (AP direction p < 0.038; ML direction p = 0.011), and ending phases (AP direction p < 0.001; ML direction p = 0.024). Moreover, during the preparatory phase, the novice dancers failed to adjust their posture in a timely manner, and therefore showed overshooting errors. Finally, during the ending phase, the novice dancers showed a greater standard deviation of the COM-COP inclination angles and performed continual postural adjustments, leading to a less smooth movement than the experienced dancers. In conclusion, the novice dancers were suggested to focus on the COM-COP adjustment during both preparatory and ending phases.

Highlights

IntroductionKnown as pirouettes, require whole body rotation on the support of a single leg
Ballet turns, known as pirouettes, require whole body rotation on the support of a single leg
It is essential for ballet dancers to maintain dynamic stability of the whole body with an appropriate posture in ballet choreography

Summary

Introduction

Known as pirouettes, require whole body rotation on the support of a single leg. During the actual turning phase (i.e., single-leg support), executing the turn requires a proper control of the center of mass (COM) over a small base of support. Regulation of proper torque and the coordination of each body segment is important for a high-skilled turn (Imura and Yeadon, 2010). Achieving this postural control requires the activation of the muscles around the torso (Winter, 2005) and the muscles affect ground reaction force. The ability of the dancer to rebuild equilibrium during this transition phase is of critical importance in determining the success of the movement

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