Functional Awareness: Anatomy in Action for Dancers

by Allegra Romita, Nancy Wanich-Romita

Overview

Dancers train for long hours to condition the body to perform stunning acts of artistry through movement expression. Daily tasks outside of dance training can unwittingly compromise the diligent efforts during classwork and rehearsals. The book goes beyond descriptions of the musculoskeletal system to improve performance. The reflective practice of Functional Awareness® teaches strategies to change daily habits in living and demonstrates how these small simple shifts can have a profound effect on ease in action. This new second edition introduces the reader to the reflective practice of Functional Awareness®. It uses foundational information of anatomy and motor learning to guide the reader toward a deeper understanding of their personal body structure. The movement explorations and anatomical visualizations to improve dance skills and provide lifelong tools for body wellness. Each chapter provides essentials in functional anatomy with over 60 beautiful illustrations to buoy the reader through the content. An application to improve specific dance movements using mental training through anatomical visualizations along with tactile body mapping. Finally, each chapter contains a mindful practice to integrate the practices into daily life in order to release unnecessary tension, improve posture, and better support the body outside of dance class and rehearsals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197586839
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/16/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Allegra Romita (MA, CMA, EdM, RYT) is the Program Administrator and on faculty for the NYU Steinhardt Dance Education program. Allegra is the Artistic Visioning Partner of Sydnie L. Mosley Dances. She received her MA in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt and EdM in Motor Learning and Control from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a Certified Movement Analyst. Allegra teaches at Brooklyn Yoga Project and Heatwise Yoga in Brooklyn, NY. Nancy Wanich-Romita (MFA, RSME, M.AmSAT) is Senior Lecturer at Towson University and teaches dance, anatomy, and kinesiology in the Dance Department. She is director of the Alexander Technique Midatlantic Teacher Training Course.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. The Relationship of Habit to Dance Training 2. Dynamic Alignment and the 4Rs 3. Impact of Thinking on Doing 4. Motions of the Trunk and Use of Spiral 5. Core Support 6. The Pelvis and Hip Joint 7. The Knee 8. The Ankle and Foot 9. Walking and Weight Shift 10. Expressivity of Arms 11. Breath 12. Restore Toward Balance Works Cited Glossary of Terms in Human Anatomy Index

Editorial Reviews

"Functional Awareness: Anatomy in Action for Dancers offers a blend of anatomical information with an underlying theme of moving with ease in both dance and daily activities. A delightful, engaging resource for dancers and dance educators, this book invites the reader into each chapter with a story and presents pertinent information that is practical and immediately applicable."—Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Professor of Dance, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

"With beautiful illustrations and photographs, reflective questions, suggestions for applications to dance and to everyday life, and with an emphasis on mindful practices, the book is lucid and accessible."—Karen Kohn Bradley, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, University of Maryland

"As a dance instructor, I cannot wait until the book is released so that I can make this required reading for my students while referencing it for my own practice. Bravo!"—Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Towson University

From the Publisher