Dance Training
By Yusha-Marie Sorzano, Associate Director for Community Engagement
As dancers, we often push our bodies to their limits, demanding peak performance day after day. Looking back on my early dance years, I realize I used to jump straight into demanding classes without proper preparation and skip cool-downs afterward. I was fortunate to have gotten away with this routine for so long. It wasn’t until I joined a professional company with on-staff physical therapists that I truly grasped the importance of consistent body care. I took this access for granted then, but later learned that such comprehensive support is a luxury not every dancer experiences.
Our bodies are our instruments in dance. Just like any fine instrument, they require meticulous care to function optimally and avoid injury. While strength training and stretching are fundamental aspects of a dancer’s regimen, the daily maintenance in between rigorous sessions and during downtime is equally crucial. This is where Body Care Tools become indispensable.
A Dance Injury Highlighted the Need for Body Care Tools
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“As a dancer, you know your body well. This means you can describe clearly what you’re feeling, and that’s great. But you dancers are also some of the most determined people around. I’ve seen you use sheer willpower to persist in doing something that’s painful and possibly damaging.” – Gregory Rakowski
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Years later, freelancing brought me back to my youthful habits of neglecting preparation. That’s when my luck changed dramatically. I fully ruptured my Achilles’ tendon, a painful injury that forced me to confront my approach to body maintenance. The past year has been a journey of learning how to properly prepare and repair my body to ensure a healthier and sustainable dance career. This challenging period taught me to deeply appreciate and listen to my body’s signals. It was during this recovery that I truly began to rely on body care tools to aid my healing and prevent future issues.
Learning to Listen to Your Body and Utilize Body Care Tools
Respecting my body as my instrument means understanding the nuances of pain – differentiating between the discomfort of pushing boundaries and the warning signs of overuse or injury. Crucially, it’s about discerning when professional help is needed (from physical therapists, massage therapists, or physicians) and when my own “dance bag” of body care tools can provide relief and support me through rehearsals and performances.
Taking care of a dancer’s muscles with effective body care tools does far more than just alleviate soreness and stiffness. It’s about fostering muscle fluidity and maintaining peak condition, essential for a long and thriving career. The physical demands of dance are immense, and the strain accumulates. Listening to your body’s feedback, both in and out of the studio, and responding with appropriate care is paramount. And self-care doesn’t have to be a chore! Exploring enjoyable and relaxing ways to nurture your body is key. Step outside the studio, connect with peers and mentors, and discover their body maintenance strategies and preferred body care tools.
Yusha-Marie Sorzano is the Associate Director for Community Engagement with Francisco Gella Dance Works, Director of the Joffrey Ballet School’s Contemporary Summer Intensive in Dallas, and an independent teacher and choreographer. She’s been a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as other renowned dance companies. Currently, Yusha is a company member of the highly-acclaimed Camille A. Brown and Dancers. She has performed alongside recording artists Wynton Marsalis, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Rihanna. Deeply passionate about the powerful role that educators play in the lives of young artists, Ms. Sorzano enjoys teaching both nationally and internationally. As a choreographer, Ms. Sorzano was most recently a part of the creative team for NBC’S “Jesus Christ Superstar,” acting as a movement consultant to John Legend and curating promotional material for the live event.
Yusha is a Dance 360 content expert, and here she shares vital insights on body care between dance sessions, offering practical tips and tricks, emphasizing the importance of incorporating body care tools into every dancer’s routine.
