designed to allow for different levels and emphasis
as the book is used. For example, the student new to
anatomy may focus on the illustrations and the sum-
mary charts of primary muscles and their functions
while using the sections on strength exercises, flex-
ibility exercises, and injuries only for reference. In
contrast, the more knowledgeable reader may focus
on details such as the secondary actions of muscles,
implications of joint mechanics for technique and
injury, and the many references provided for more
in-depth study.
Similarly, in surveying colleagues teaching dance
anatomy and kinesiology courses in academic set-
tings, I found that courses were taught in many dif-
ferent ways. For example, some teachers gave little
or no coverage to the upper extremity while others
included a basic survey of the area. Some teachers
included primarily anatomy, while others provided
greater emphasis on injuries and mechanics and
still others on corrective exercises and cueing. So,
again, the book is designed with consistent headings
within chapters in order to allow teachers to select
the sections of the chapters they want to emphasize in
their courses while leaving other sections as optional
supplemental reading.
In summary, it is hoped that this book will become
a valuable resource that can be used on different
levels as knowledge and circumstances change. In the
past, much of dance was taught by imitation of profi-
cient dancers and teachers, with cueing often based
on intuition and personally derived experiential
assumptions. This text is designed to bring greater
scientific knowledge and understanding to dance
so that assumptions can be evaluated and honed to
reflect an ideal blend of science and art. It is also
designed to show the value of the scientific perspec-
tive so that as new research and knowledge evolve in
dance, readers can have a framework within which to
apply this information. Such a blend of science and
art can allow teaching to become more effective and
empower dancers to realize their unique individual
potentials so that technical proficiency will less limit
their artistic vision.Preface ix