Is running ok?

[emilylorraine]

My daughters ballet school is having them jog for three miles once a week. Is this good for a dancer?

[Victoria Leigh]

emilylorraine, there are some dancers who run, however it is really not an activity we recommend at all. It is high impact, and they get enough of that in dance. Besides that, dancers trained to turn out and do everything toe first, do not run correctly and this can lead to injuries.

[emilylorraine]

Thanks for your response. I've been concerned about it not being good for them, my daughter is as well. How can I talk to the teacher without sounding like a know it all?

[Victoria Leigh]

Try getting a note either from your daughter's teacher, or from a physician. All sports are not bad, and even some that involve some running, like the kind that are very short runs in tennis, for instance, are not bad. Long distance track running is the problem. When I was in school I did everything in PE that we had to do except for track and soccer.

[Clara 76]

So your dd's ballet school is making her/others run 3 miles once a week??? Where- inside the studio? What is the reason and who is overseeing this?

 

I agree with Victoria- running is the province of the runner- not the dancer.

[emilylorraine]

I hate to say much more because I wouldn't want to give away her school. It is an academic school and a ballet school and it is a good one. I think that possibly this teacher just thinks cross training is important. Sometimes they do pilates instead of the running...My daughter says that some of the kids say it hurts their knees (as does my daughter). I guess I will just talk with her and tell her my concerns.

[Clara 76]

Running can certainly be bad for the knees, at least as a generalization. It depends upon how you are running and who is training you on how to run. (Gee, kinda like another activity I can think of.... )

 

If she is having knee pain then there is a problem. That isn't to say that the entire school is bad or anything like that, but simply that they may wish to re-think the aerobic activity they have selected for the dancers, or bring in a professional coach to teach them how to run properly.

[dancemaven]

My DD has trouble running, skiing, etc. anymore, which now caused pain in her knees--both of which she used to do without issue. Her MD has commented on her turned out walk---which she is/was quite proud of as she thought it marked her as a 'dancer'. I have no doubt that it is this 'turned out' positioning that causes the pains in her knees in these activities.

 

However, one of her recent teachers told the students that dancers dance like this (turned out), but dancers should walk like this (parallel). That teacher said that just like tendus, pirouettes, etc, the turn out was part of the dancer's craft and should be used when working, but like tools in other trades, stored away when not working.

 

I have read discussions somewhere (wish I could remember where) that talked about the 'dangers' of permitting one's natural/normal walking gait to become turned out. That indicates an imbalance in the muscles of the legs (or hips or whatever). The discussion talked about the benefits of continuing to maintain the ability to walk parallel and yet develop turn-out. The two are not mutually exclusive.

 

Long-distance running develops different muscles than those needed for ballet. As I recall the discussions, it is pretty much counter-productive in terms of the hip flexors. However, some short distance running done for aerobic purposes, muscle strengthening, and bone strengthening really shouldn't cause any problems--as long as the gait is parallel, which should be encouraged. So, perhaps your DD's teacher's idea of cross-training is an attempt to preserve the natural agonist/antagonist balance of these leg/hip muscles while increasing their range of motion for turn-out needs. Not to mention the cardio benefit of this type running.

 

I wish we had understood that earlier so that I could have encouraged DD to keep a parallel walking gait rather than being a bit amused at her pride in having the dancer's 'duck walk'.

[BelaNina]

I would think that it would be difficult for anyone who has not had experience running to suddenly run 3 miles, and then do that only once per week. Virtually all running programs suggest that the person run three to four days per week. This builds up the stamina, and accustoms the bones, ligaments, muscles, etc. to the constant pounding. It would seem to me that only doing it once per week would be worse than doing it two or more times per week, or not at all.

[Hollywood Ballet]

I agree that the running is potentially more harmful than beneficial. As Victoria Leigh points out, your daughter's leg and hip muscles are adapted to the turnout required for ballet, which may prevent her from running with proper gait and alignment for running unless she is working with a trainer.

 

As a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, I am a firm believer in strength training, particularly with the upper body and core musculature in female dancers. I have heard some nonsense about strength training "ruining the line" of a dancer's arms, but I think the old aesthetic of the stick-like figure, with all the concomitant eating disorders that can accompany it, has largely gone by the board. And moderate strength training will not give women bodybuilder muscles. It will, however, make them less prone to be injured in adl's, and in today's choreography where females are often required to take or share another dancer's weight, having balanced strength can help prevent injury in the rehearsal setting as well.

 

So I would say- strength training twice a week (including Pilates) is good. Leave out the running, and if a dancer does Yoga, do this with moderation as well, and never before class or rehearsal. Ditto for deep, sustained or "static" stretches- these should never be done before class or rehearsal but always after, or on off days, and only after a proper warm up.

[dancemaven]

Whoa, 3 miles once a week?? Oops! I forgot that detail as I read through the additional postings. As Roseanne Rosannadanna said: "Nevermind!"

[CDR]

I agree, running can be harmful, especially when running on roads/pavements. If she runs on soft ground it isn't quite as bad. Make sure she has good trainers (sneakers?) that are suitable for running, perhaps those with air cushioning would help.

[Ed McPherson]

There is no way to argue with the science of running and its impact on muscle and bone structure. I never ran when I was still growing because it was painful to me.

But I dont think anyone who enjoys it should have to rule it out. I run now, in fact I've been training to do Xterra's in the spring, they are shorter triathlons 1.5 km Swim, 30 km Mountain Bike, 11 km Trail Run. I came to a point where I felt like I was being held hostage by my dancing. I hated being aerobically out of shape. I talked to a trainer and set up a schedule that would ease myself into the running since it is higher impact. And I do small things to help my body, for example I only do trail runs since dirt is much softer than running on concrete in the city.

[Victoria Leigh]

Yes, Ed, if they are an adult, and enjoy it, and do not find it painful, fine. But this topic is about an under age 13 dancer who is being asked to run THREE miles, ONCE a week. This is not good, period.

 

[Reminder to our adult dancers - this is the Parents of Dancers under 13 forum.]

[Hollywood Ballet]

Yes, Ed, if they are an adult, and enjoy it, and do not find it painful, fine. But this topic is about an under age 13 dancer who is being asked to run THREE miles, ONCE a week. This is not good, period.

 

[Reminder to our adult dancers - this is the Parents of Dancers under 13 forum.]

 

Agree still, and we are reminded that there are signficant differences between 13 year olds and adults in the bones, cartilage, muscular strength and endurance, body awareness, and numerous other parameters both physical and psychological.

 

I guess that the teacher who is making 13 year olds run 3 miles once a week has good intentions, but bad information, if any, and probably no training in exercise science.