The best dancers make dancing look virtually effortless.  They glide, spin, stop and shape around the floor with the apparent ease of a stroll in the park.  How do they make it look easy, while you struggle just to do a fraction of what they produce?  Yes, their technique is superior, and therefore the dancing becomes free of stress and strain, but that is not the only factor. 

   The champions of Ballroom & Latin constantly train their bodies to produce and maintain the look of perfect posture, great floor coverage, dynamic changes of speed and the flexibility to create beautiful shapes.  Many top Professional dancers employ personal trainers to work on their power, flexibility and endurance.  Most will also train regularly at the gym to work on their conditioning.

   Like many other dancers, Joel & Clara work out regularly at the gym.  Over the years, they have had a handful of training sessions with personal trainers to help guide their fitness regimen.  It is important to get some direction and advice to mold your program to your specific needs...  not only to address the strengths and weaknesses of your unique body, but also to relate your physical training directly to the skills needed for Ballroom Dancing. 

  Cross training in other disciplines is also very important. Joel and Clara believe that Pilates is one of the best training supplements to Ballroom Dancing. Other disciplines that you can also try are Yoga or Tai Chi. Joel and Clara took a few mat classes in Pilates, followed up with an instructional video and have kept up their Pilates exercises on their own at the gym.

   As you can see, even if you don't have the time or money to regularly attend a fitness centre or Pilates class, you can still train your body at home.  With a simple pair of running shoes, hand weights, skipping rope, yoga mat and body ball, Joel and Clara were able to condition their bodies, even during their time in the little town of Casina, Italy.  If they could do it, so can you! 

   Get some advice from your Coach, a Professional Fitness Trainer and/or a Pilates Instructor to help get you started.  You can also read books and magazines about getting your body in tip-top shape, follow along with a video to Pilates and or check out the I2 section of the site for more helpful hints.

Physical Training Experts:

• Personal Fitness Trainer: Svetlana Pelletier & Michelle Pelletier
  This husband and wife team are Professional Fitness trainers who train many of the top dancers in Vancouver. Please contact them directly for more information.
  Phone: 604-230-5552
  Email: svetlana@bodyagefitness.ca
  
  
• Body Rolling Expert: Micheline G
  Body Rolling is a fantastic method of self-massage, which relaxing the muscles and releases the tension in the body. Micheline has extensive knowledge of the human body and can help you target all your sore spots.
  Phone: 604-682-3523
  Email: info@RollYourBody.com
  
  
• Pilates Expert: Fran Hinton
  Pilates exercises focus on posture, strength, and flexibility, all very important components for a good dancer. Pilates especially targets core strength, which enhances a dancer's balance, aligns the body parts, and improves coordination.

These experts have conducted classes in our JC Summer Dance Training Camp. For more information about our camp, please visit the Training Camp page in our Events section.

Suggested Reading:

to come...