236 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology
Study Questions and Applications
- Examine closely the location of the iliofemoral ligament in figure 4.4. Using the human
skeleton model or your own body, review its functions and describe whether the following
movements will make it taut or slack: (a) Anterior pelvic tilt, (b) posterior pelvic tilt, (c) hip
external rotation. - Draw the following muscles on a skeletal chart, and use an arrow to indicate the line of pull
of each muscle. Then, next to each muscle, list its actions. (a) Iliopsoas, (b) rectus femoris,
(c) sartorius, (d) gluteus maximus, (e) hamstrings, (f) deep outward rotators (as a group),
(g) tensor fasciae latae, (h) gluteus medius and minimus (as a group), (i) hip adductors (as
a group). - Locate the muscles or muscle groups listed in question 2 on your body, perform actions that
these muscles produce, and palpate their contraction. - Using figures 4.17 and 4.18 as a reference, identify the angle of femoral torsion on a femur
from a disarticulated skeleton and examine how changing that angle would influence turnout
and facing of the knees. - Working with a partner, demonstrate the fundamental movements of the pelvis (hip flexion,
extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation, and internal rotation) on the partner,
including both of the following: (a) where the pelvis is stationary and the thigh moves and
(b) where the thigh is stationary and the pelvis moves. - Working with a partner, have the partner lie supine with both legs extended, and then measure
the degree of hip flexion present on one side with the knee extended versus bent. Explain
the difference and what could be done to make the two values more similar. - Using a skeletal model, evaluate how standing in a turned-out position would change the line
of pull of the hip flexors, hip abductors, hip extensors, and hip adductors. Postulate how this
might change muscle use in a second-position plié and in a side extension. - Analyze “lifting the hip” when performing a passé in terms of motions at the spine, lumbo-
sacral joint, and hip joint proper. What muscle action could correct this undesired action?
What dance cues could be used to try to achieve this correction for the dancer? - How does the abductor mechanism relate to standing on one leg in dance and the common
errors of “sitting in the hip” or “hiking the hip”? - Demonstrate one exercise for strengthening and one exercise for stretching the following
muscle groups: (a) hip flexors, (b) hip extensors, (c) hip abductors, (d) hip adductors, (e)
hip external rotators. - When strengthening or stretching the hip extensors, how could one emphasize the hamstrings
versus the gluteus maximus? When strengthening the iliopsoas, how could one emphasize
the iliopsoas versus rectus femoris? - A dancer wishes to improve the height she can raise her leg to the side.
a. Analyze this movement focusing on the hip of the gesture leg, including the joint move-
ments, muscle groups, and sample muscles of the hip.
b. Describe factors that would influence the degree of pelvic and spinal lateral tilt accompa-
nying the motion of raising the leg.
c. Identify appropriate strength and flexibility exercises that could be used to increase the
height of the leg and how they could help. Provide three cues that could be utilized to try
to implement the desired hip mechanics and technique.