523 EP036 – From Plato to Paris 2024: dance as training for sport

The link between dance and sport traces back to the works of Plato in Ancient Greece. The ancient athlete/warriors included dance and music in their physical training. Plato's notion of the rhythm and harmony of an individual relates to rhythm and harmony in society. The Olympic Games unite the world every four years and perhaps it is the rhythm and harmony of the individual extended into society at the games. Dance provides the athlete with a non competitive form of physical training for athletes of all sports with a focus on fundamental movements, kinesthetic awareness, and rhythmic awareness. In the dance studio, athletes enjoy a space that is not sport specific but rather a place neutral for all athletes. The athlete focused on their own intrinsic rhythm in response with the accompaniment of extrinsic rhythms of music. Additional aspects of propprioception to include balance, coordination, agility, timing and flexibility. This dance training is both physical and mental and offers an alternative for cross training both during the sport season and off season. In addition to the aspect of sport similarity found in the fundamental movements of bending, stretching, and twisting, the dance teacher works with each athlete to find transferable aspects from the dance training to the specific sport. Dance, as a tool for injury prevention, keeps the athlete in training without over training. Dance is a way for the athlete to identify their own rhythms and develop individual harmony. Thus, carrying on the true Olympic mission. A lecture and video tapes of the individual exercise shared in a typical dance class for athletes of all sports.