Feet- the unsung heroes of dance and movement

This Friday, August 12, Grace Tang of Strive Physical Therapy is coming to World In Motion to give an interactive lecture on foot and spine health.  Personally, I am really looking forward to this event because my tootsies ache a lot lately!  But if they aren't bothering us for some reason, how often do we actually think about our feet and how crucial they are to our everyday life - let alone our dance and movement activities?

In my very humble opinion (and I do think that other more illustrious people in the world of dance agree), the foot is the most important part of the body for a dancer.  You might say, "Duh" to this concept (it is hard to dance without using your feet.  But not impossible.  I have taught wheelchair-bound folks to bellydance, and they were fabulous at it. But I digress.) But how many of us are conscious and deliberate about what our feet are doing when we dance?  Or how we treat our feet before, during, and after a workout?

The next time you watch a phenomenal dancer, take a few minutes to really examine what she/he is doing with her/his feet.  Watch how they place them in space- odds are, it will be with purpose and grace.  Look at how their feet are an extension of their entire movement, characterization, mood and musicality and not just a means for getting them from one spot to another.  The next time you practice or are in class, try to be aware of what you are doing with your feet. Are they parallel?  Is the weight evenly distributed between them and across each foot?  Are your knees aligned properly with them?  Observe what you do with your feet when you travel across the floor.  Are your movements smooth, controlled- beautiful?  Be sure to warm up and cool down your feet and ankles before and after class.  And think about giving your hard working feet a nice massage after class and practice!  Massage between your toes, over your arch and around your heel and ankle.  Your feet will thank you for it later!

For more extensive information about how to treat your feet properly, be sure to come to this Friday's lecture as well as the one on August 19 when Aaron Marco will present an interactive program which will include an awareness exercise centered around feet and how they relate to the ground.  But in the meantime, be nice to your feet- the unsung heroes of dance and movement.  You might be surprised at how much better you feel- and move- overall if you are!