Pointe

Muscles are worked slowly to reduce the risk of injury and better train the body so the work comes naturally to participants. Stretching is a large part of the studio’s classes, with students spending half of each class preparing on the bar.

“It’s not fast-paced – it’s more about endurance and trying to maintain strength,” says Miller.

Flexibility is paramount to success in ballet, and that’s another area that is heavily emphasized.

“A lot of dancers will supplement with yoga, Pilates or some other type of activity that supports ballet,” says Miller.

Success in dance is contingent on more than just muscle strength. Nutrition is an important factor as well, and students are made aware of that importance.

Ballet provides major boosts to fitness, body awareness and more

Ashley Doyle-Lucas, one of the company’s faculty members, has her Ph.D. in sports nutrition and chronic diseases and is working to gain status as a registered dietician. She makes sure her students follow good eating habits that will keep them in top condition for dance.

“They can’t reach optimum performance if they’re not reaching their optimum nutrition,” she says.

One to four hours before class, students are advised to eat something with high carbohydrates, moderate to low protein and low fat, such as a fruit smoothie or fruit with peanut butter. That type of food provides a lot of energy that can be used quickly, Doyle-Lucas says.

If a student will be dancing for more than 90 minutes, he or she is advised to bring a sports drink for fuel and fluid, as well as a snack such as fruit or granola.

“I’m always allowing them to bring wa- ter in … because we know dehydration really impairs sports,” Doyle-Lucas says.

After class, recovery eating is important as well. Doyle-Lucas recommends having something to eat 30 to 60 minutes after exercise to refuel the body and repair muscle damage. Chocolate milk is one of the suggestions most popular among students.

The New Albany Ballet Company has a strong focus on technique. Though the school does put on a spring recital – this year scheduled for May 20 – its students do not participate in competitions, so the vast majority of their work is practice.

Miller has seen her students go on to see success in a variety of ballet companies across the country, as well as in top-ranked university dance programs.

She and the school’s other instructors work hard to stay up to date on the latest developments in the world of dance and technique – keeping in touch with other companies, attending seminars, reading national publications and making every effort to stay ahead of the curve.

They also make sure to maintain good communication with students so they’re not afraid to come forward with any problems they may be facing, from nervousness to injury.

Garth Bishop is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at editor@ healthynewalbany.org.