3 November 2022 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Anatomical and Biomechanical Principles of Alignment for Dance

SUMMARY

This interactive webinar is part of a series on healthy dance practice. It will introduce participants to principles relevant to the maintenance of functional and safe genre-specific static and dynamic alignment. Participants will explore fundamentals of anatomy and biomechanics, and how they apply to dancers’ abilities and technique.

This webinar includes some simple, stationary movement components.

LEARNING AIMS

  • Explore fundamental aspects of human anatomy;
  • Explore fundamental aspects of biomechanics and consider force and motion factors within the dance context;
  • Examine general concepts of alignment and dance technique and discuss how to address common problems;
  • Discuss the practical elements of assessing and encouraging functional bone and muscle relationships, and the maintenance of safe biomechanical alignment in stylistic frameworks.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Have an increased understanding of functional anatomy and biomechanics, and be able to gauge the current abilities of dancers;
  • Have greater understanding of how to effectively communicate, promote, and provide feedback on healthy style-specific alignment;
  • Recognize technical deviations from ideal alignment and the potential impact of ineffective or inadequate technique on safe execution of genre-specific movement;
  • Be equipped with knowledge of the fifth core principle of Safe in Dance International’s Healthy Dance Practice Certificate (HDPC).

This activity is worth 2 hours of Time-Valued CPD.

Tutor: Andrea Downie

ANDREA DOWNIE, MA, is the Founding Director of EnhanceDance, an initiative established in 2017 to share evidence-based principles and best practice in dance teaching, training and performance. She is a founding member, Immediate Past President and Co-Chair of the Resources Committee for Healthy Dancer Canada (HDC), a non-profit organization founded in 2008 and dedicated to improving the health, well-being and performance of all dancers.

A dance educator, choreographer and kinesiology instructor with 25 years of experience, Andrea is currently pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology at University of Calgary, focusing on dance science, somatics and transformative experiences in dance. She received her MA in Dance Studies and her HonBFA in Dance Performance from York University. Her master’s research focused on motor learning, and from it, she developed the Multisensory Pedagogical Model for Dance Skill Instruction to enhance dance skill learning. Andrea completed her professional training at Dance New Amsterdam (formerly Dance Space Centre) in New York City, and performed with Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects while there.

Andrea is a certified Level 1 & Level 2 Conditioning-with-Imagery Training teacher, the C-I TrainingTM Course Director, as well as the provider of the Level 1 C-I TrainingTM Teacher Course & Certification. She is one of only a few certified teachers of Simonson Technique in Canada. She is also a Registered Provider with Safe in Dance International for the Healthy Dance Certificates, and a third-party CPD course provider for Royal Academy of Dance Canada.

Andrea has experience working with professional, pre-professional and recreational dancers of all ages, levels and abilities. She works actively across Canada as a teacher-tutor, guest dance instructor, choreographer, and speaker, enthusiastically sharing her passion for dance. Her dance classes are intelligently-structured, founded on evidence-based principles and best practices, and integrate dance history. Her choreography delves into various aspects of the individual and collective experience to explore what it is that makes us human.

Andrea resides in Toronto and Calgary. She is an adjunct professor in the Dance Program at University of Calgary, and teaches at The School of Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT) in Toronto. Her classes encourage somatic awareness, movement efficiency and effectiveness, and individual artistic expression within a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.

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Key Information

Time Duration Fee
1:00 - 3:00 pm ET 2 hours $35: Member
$45: Non-Member

How to apply

Click the Book Now button above.

Resources:

  • Computer or mobile device with internet connection
  • Speakers

Access:

  • The webinars will be presented via Zoom
  • The webinars will be recorded. The recording will be made available to all registrants.

CPD Hours:

  • Hours awarded regardless if you attend live or view the recording.
Note: All participants must register individually.