Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology

480 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology

Front Kick (Grand Battement Devant)

From a Lunge

With the front kick (table 8.4), the hip flexors work

concentrically on the gesture leg (right leg) in the

beginning of the up-phase (subphase A to B) to bring

the leg forward, while the knee extensors keep the

knee extended and the ankle-foot plantar flexors

point the foot. At the same time, the hip extensors

and knee extensors of the support leg (left leg) work

concentrically to bring their respective joints from a

position of flexion to the “extended position” used

in normal standing and in anatomical position.

The ankle-foot plantar flexors also work concentri-

cally to decrease dorsiflexion by pulling the tibia

backward (ankle-foot plantar flexion with proximal

segment—the tibia—moving). These actions result

in appropriate positioning of the hip, knee, and

ankle to provide a stable support leg for the next two

subphases of the movement. In the next subphase

(subphase B to C), the hip extensors, knee extensors,

and ankle plantar flexors of the support leg work iso-

metrically to maintain their position, while the hip

TABLE 8.3 Movement Analysis Schema

Basic analysis Supplemental analysis

1. Divide the movement into phases based on movement direction or functional
   goals.
   6. Identify key muscles acting as
   stabilizers that are important for correct
   technique (optional).


2. Select the key joint(s) where visible movement occurs and that are particularly
   important for correct execution of the movement.
   7. Identify key muscles acting as
   synergists that are important for correct
   technique (optional).


3. Identify the key joint movements that occur in each phase. 8. Identify any requirements for extreme
   range of motion (movement specific).


4. Identify the type of muscle contraction in each of the phases or phase
   subdivisions. In more simple movement analysis, the entire phase generally
   involves the same type of muscle contraction. With more complex movements,
   multiple types of muscle contractions may exist within a given phase.
   A. Identify concentric muscle contractions/phases. Concentric muscle
   contractions act in the opposite direction to gravity or other external forces
   where the action of the given muscle group is in the same direction as the
   direction of the observed movement.
   B. Identify eccentric muscle contractions/phases (if present). Eccentric muscle
   contractions act in the same direction as gravity or other external forces
   to decelerate or control movement, such as on the down-phase of a given
   movement. The action of the active muscle group is in the opposite direction
   to the direction of the observed movement.
   C. Identify key isometric muscle contractions/phase(s) (if present). Isometric
   muscle contractions exactly balance opposing forces so that there is no
   change in joint angle and no visible movement is observed.


5. Identify any requirements for marked
   strength or power (movement specific).


6. Identify the primary muscle group(s) (and sample prime movers) that
   produce/control the joint movement(s) in each phase. Where appropriate:
   A. Begin with the primary muscle group that produces the joint movement on the
   concentric phase(s) (muscles whose primary action is the joint movement
   observed during the concentric phase).
   B. Then identify the primary muscle group that produces the joint movement on
   the eccentric phase(s) (muscles whose primary action is opposite to the joint
   movement observed—often the same muscle group as used in the concentric
   phase is used in the eccentric phase to control the opposite joint action).
   10. Identify any body alignment and
   technique problems (dancer specific).
   11. Identify special considerations that
   influence muscle use (movement specific).
   12. Check your analysis by performing the
   movement and rethinking the logic used.