Many dancers are great fans of Pilates, even elite dancers who have already reached the height of physical fitness and undertake eight or more hours a day of dancing activity. Pilates supports their day-to-day technical requirements, but with a different focus on their bodies.
Pilates is a physical fitness system which was developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century; it is currently practiced by over 11 million people worldwide. Pilates does not build bulky muscles, which dancers prefer, instead championing strength of the entire physical structure. Pilates can be used to release and work through tension in the body, as well as to increase strength and flexibility.
Pilates benefits elite dancers because it works against the tolls of dance on the body, helping them to correct imbalances and find space outside the studio to release and reconnect. Pilates is a subtle technique, which also helps dancers to rehabilitate injuries and become stronger for the challenges of rehearsals or performances. Many dancers believe Pilates is the key to having a healthy strong body to keep up with the physical demands of dance.
Following careers on stage, many dancers retrain to become Pilates instructors once they have hung up their shoes, especially ballet dancers. They have felt the benefits personally and enjoy the journey of discovery and focused work Pilates endorses. Pilates is a perfect match for ballet, considering the core strength with focus on alignment and length. Pilates gives dancers more awareness and understanding of what they are asking the body to do. It provides security and freedom in dancing through strength and control, as well as lengthening the muscles, improving coordination of breath and becoming more aware of engaging the mind’s awareness of the body.