Artefact research

Ballet workout literature: 

I have started looking at different types of books which could help me decide how I wish to present my artefact. 

Richard Blanshard

New York City Ballet Workout is a revolutionary fitness program that will help you begin to develop lean abs, firm buttocks, a contoured waist, sculpted legs, slim thighs, strong arms, perfect posture, flexbility you never thought possible--and grace and poice of a dancer. More than three hundred stunning step-by-step and other photographs throughout make this the most beautiful and easy-to-use exercise book ever created.This elegant book is unlike any exercise book ever published. Graced with more than 300 instructional exercise photographs and extraordinary duotone portraits of New York City Ballet dancers, The New York City Ballet Workout explores the company's philosophy of balancing art, life, and fitness.

By combining elements of New York City Ballet's balletic regimen with practical strength-building exercises, The New York City Ballet Workout can help people achieve a strong, graceful, and flexible body--one that displays the impeccable poise that is the trademark of New York City Ballet dancers. 

Many exercises of The New York City Ballet Workout were once confined to the world's elite rehearsal studios. Now, as refined by Peter Martins and his company, these exercises have been designed as a comprehensive, holistic approach to the body that can be used by anyone from the out-of-shape to the serious athlete, to attain a lean, hard, beautiful body. From flexibility to endurance, this is a complete exercise program for men and women.

This book is more aimed at non-professional dancers who are looking to achieve the physique of a professional.

Eric Franklin

This volume features 102 imagery exercises paired with dance-specific exercises to help maximize body-mind conditioning and develop more fluid mobility, balance, and tension release. The book culminates with a 20-minute, full-body barre workout routine designed to help dancers warm up, condition, and refine their dance technique. You'll learn how to execute lifelong dance skills that give power without the risk of injuries. By working the muscles through movements and ranges of motion that approximate the demands of your chosen dance form, you directly enrich your performance capabilities. And as you strengthen the body's core, stretch to gain just the right amount of flexibility, and incorporate the power of the mind, you unleash your full artistic and physical potential.

I found this book on amazon and it is exactly the kind of thing I was actually looking for. All of the aims seem like goals I wish to achieve and this book aims to be applicable for different 'chosen dance forms'.

I did some further research into Eric Franklin and the Franklin method which I actually remembered was mentioned when I did some research into somatic therapy the other day. I have linked his blog below which contains many interesting articles! I have read through a few of them and will choose one or two to include in my literature review.

What is the Franklin method?

The Franklin Method® uses Dynamic Neurocognitive Imagery™, anatomical embodiment and educational skills to create lasting positive change in your body and mind. The Franklin Method was founded by Eric Franklin in 1994 and is taught all over the world, including the Universities of Vienna, Cologne, Karlsruhe and the Juilliard School in New York.

The Franklin Method® is recognized by the health providers in Switzerland and is a regularly seen at Dance, Pilates, Yoga and Physiotherapy conferences. One of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century is the plasticity of the brain; that the lives we live shape the brain we develop. The Franklin Method® is at the forefront of practical neuro-plasticity; showing you how to use your brain to improve your body’s function. It teaches you how to harness the transforming power of the mind. It can be applied to improve all of your abilities. It all starts with the knowledge that we have the power to change.

The Franklin Method® teaches dynamic alignment and how to move your body with maximum efficiency to keep your body youthful and energized. Your whole body is part of a symphony of coordinated movement. In a sense, your posture is reinvented at every instant. In every moment, the ideal combination of limbs, joints, gravity, moving parts, connective tissue, and muscle must be found and directed by your brain and nervous system.

All of these new and interesting methods of training your mind and body are fascinating to me so I would like to try to incorporate this into my artefact because I think that it could be very beneficial for dancers to be more aware of these sorts of practices as well as just the regular Pilates exercises. I think I could find a way to introduce these to other dancers and incorporate them into my professional artefact. I will talk to my SIG and peers to see what they think about this topic.