Science of Dance Pt. 2

"Dancers realize that understanding the physics can genuinely help their technical facility; science folks enjoy seeing physics applied to the human body moving in impressive ways that most of us can enjoy only vicariously. But we all have bodies, so there is an inherent curiosity.“ Keneth Law

 Looking at the art and practice of dance through the lens of physics has been accused of  “reducing ballet to a science”. Dance is 90% conviction and 10% science. If you believe you can make your body do what you command it shall be done. The 10% that is science is highly important. Under standing the human physique from a muscular lever lets you know how far and in which ways the human body can be pushed. This knowledge give a dancer more control of the body allowing for  the creation of the strongest and most imaginative shapes. Our bodies are complex systems and while we largely submit to the laws of physics, many aspects of how we dancers work are not yet fully understood.




 Finding ones balance is something that we dancers strive to have an innate sense of.  We should be so keenly in tune with our body that we know days when we are on and off your central point of balance. A dancers equilibrium is constantly changing as the posture and movement changes. When a male partner lifts his female partner upside down her sense of equilibrium has changed and she can easily become disoriented, but only for a few seconds.  Equilibrium is controlled by structures in the inner ear, Research has shown us that muscles help to support and maintain posture and balance by generating automatic responses that preserve the vertical orientation. In other words, it’s easier to balance standing up straight than bending at the waist.  With modern dance balancing in an off-axis position happens to be part of the style  and appeal.
From "Postural Orientation and Equilibrium" by Fay Horak & Jane Macpherson, 1996.

While these automatic responses are more complex than the stretch reflex , they are both involuntary responses requiring no conscious thought on your part. So, if these responses are involuntary, how do I get better balance? Through the nature of their practice, dancers are better at balancing than ordinary people because of the simple logic that  practice makes perfect. The best way to get better at balancing is to practice. While this may seem simplistic, its true. (regardless of whether or not they are consciously activated) are controlled by muscles.  There’s no magic muscles become stronger through use or more through practice so does putting science to use with dance and movement. It betters better with use and practice.

The Discover article noted that Laws had in the past received criticism for his work in attempting to reform ballet instruction by looking at the art and practice of dance through the lens of physics. The Philadelphia Inquirer had once accused him of “reducing ballet to a science.” further develops the notion that science and art need not be mutually exclusive, especially when it comes to ballet and physics. Laws explains that he believes these boundaries have become less rigid in the past few years: