How does the body work/react in relation to dance?

Question

How does the body work/react in relation to dance?

Answer 1

Anyone who has learned anything about the body knows that its an extremely complicated instrument, from all the bones, to all the muscles, to the nerves, to how they all relate to the brain, etc. So in that sense this is a very broad question. If you were super interested, a good book/textbook to look at is Dance Kinesiology by Sally f**t. (GREAT BOOK!)

But a sort of broad summary: the muscles in your body can be strengthed and trained to make gradiated contractions so that people don't just make jerky movements but can also make suspended and smooth movements. These muscles can be trained so intensely/thoroughly that a dancer can learn to isolate the most minute areas of their body (one toe at a time, one specific muscle in the back, isolation of one gluteal muscle, etc.) Additionally, our nervous system contributes by giving our brain feedback so that our muscles can react quickly, such as with contact improvisation, you have to work on a whim but also be strong enough to react to whatever movement is initiated so that you don't injure yourself. If you have to go to the ground suddenly, you don't want to twist your knee, so if your nerves get pinched and your brain says straighten your tibia, then you have to contract those muscles so you can make it to the floor and continue interacting with your partner(s). Also, its a whole new ball game when dance in different mediums or with different props. In water, you have more resistance to your movement, in the air you have more freedom but also need more strength because you don't have the ground to support your movement or contribute friction.

There are an infinite amount of ways to look about answering your question. I know I was really all over the place, but I didn't know where to start or what to include. I hope I opened up some ways for you to better look into your question or to help you look up some specific things. I definitely again recommend that book, it has so much more info but very organized and very well explained. Even if you go to the library or bookstore and look through it there, that'd be beneficial.

Answer 2

Like anything you do whether sports, or music, or dance the constant repetition that are done is a way to build the proper muscle, and for some even the formation of the bones and skeletal muscle. Most dancers work on their turnout so they are able to move in different direction and different way than let say a athlete who runs. It also help them jump and do some leg movements while in the air. They also have to move with grace and fluidity which is done by repetition of movements on certain position to achieve the proper muscle and bones alignment - compared to a football defense lineman who needs to build his muscle to be able to move forward with power.