Jump Ability in Novice Ballet Dancers before and after Training

Abstract

To investigate the jump ability in a group of young dancers, 61 adolescent classical ballet students were analyzed using a force-plate instrument. Each student was evaluated for the rising of the gravity center and the flight time while performing two types of jumps: one from a static position, the other with a preliminary counter-movement. By the comparison of our data with the results of the same test in other athletes, we tried to identify the most specific characteristics of classical ballet training that can have an influence on the height of the vertical jump. The correlation between the height of the jump and the ability of the subjects to maintain a correct en dehors position was also studied, pointing out, finally, the presence of a very common technical error — the double heel strike. Additionally, during the course of the study the subjects were exposed to a physiotechnique program designed to train them in the proper classical ballet technique. The results of this study indicate that this exercise was useful in helping these dancers perform higher jumps in a more technically correct manner.