Why should dancers train their fitness?

Fitness training is essential for dancers for several reasons, even though dance training itself imposes physical demands. The key points that make fitness training indispensable for dancers are:

1. Optimization of physical performance: Dance training often focuses heavily on technique and movement patterns in the aerobic range. However, studies show that this is not enough to prepare dancers for the intense demands during a performance. Professional dancers or those in training may not have the necessary strength or endurance for the phases of dance performances, which take place in the high-intensity, intermittent range. This is where additional fitness training plays a role in filling these gaps.

2. Injury prevention: Dancers are often prone to injuries due to the high stress on their joints and muscles. Targeted strength training, stability training, and agility training help strengthen muscles, enhance stability, and improve mobility. This reduces the risk of overuse or misalignment injuries.

3. Improvement of physical resilience: Dancers must often perform quick, explosive movements, whether in jumps, turns, or complex step sequences. To optimally handle these demands, power training is important. It helps increase muscle strength and explosiveness, allowing dancers to perform more efficiently and with less risk.

4. Cardiovascular and endurance training: While dance training covers aerobic aspects, it is important for dancers to also develop anaerobic capacity. Intense interval training as part of fitness training improves not only endurance but also the body’s ability to recover quickly, which is essential for good performance during a show.

5. Holistic fitness development: Comprehensive fitness training that includes all of the above aspects—strength, agility, stability, plyometrics, power training, flexibility and endurance—helps raise overall fitness levels. This supports movement quality and enables dancers to improve over time and maintain high-level performance without their physical capabilities becoming a limitation.

Overall, additional fitness training strengthens the physical foundation for dancing, reduces injury risks, and ensures that dancers can sustain their performance levels over longer periods of time.