Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology

338 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology

instep and reaching the toes out, can sometimes help

achieve the desired muscle activation.

Knee-Foot Alignment

Due to the coupling of the leg and foot discussed

previously, positioning of the knee relative to the

foot is important for correct foot mechanics. Using

the cue to keep the knee over the foot (a plumb

line dropped from the center of the patella being

in line with the second toe) in standing movements

involving bending one or both knees, such as pliés

or weight shifts, can help encourage proper foot

mechanics in many dancers and help prevent the

common tendency of not maintaining adequate hip

external rotation, letting the knees excessively fall

in and the feet pronate. However, it is important to

realize that the specific relationship of the knee to

the foot that will yield the desired neutral subtalar

and midtarsal foot position will vary greatly between

Stirrup Muscle Function in Relevé

• Use the stirrup muscles to adjust your body weight placement. Rise onto the ball of your foot
  using your hand on a wall or barre to help balance. Purposely shift your body weight outward so that
  your foot rolls out (inversion) and excess weight is borne by the fourth and fifth toes as seen in C.
  Then pull up with the outer stirrup muscles by thinking of lifting the underside of the outer border
  of the foot up toward the ceiling to bring your body weight back over the long axis of the foot. Now,
  shift your body weight inward so that your foot rolls in (eversion) with excess weight on the big toe as
  seen in D. Then pull up the inner stirrup muscles by thinking of lifting the underside of your medial
  arch toward the ceiling to bring your body weight back so it is centered between your first and second
  toe. Lastly, keeping your weight over the axis of the foot, contract both sides of the stirrup muscles
  together to keep your body weight appropriately positioned and to raise your arch slightly higher to
  help reach full height in a demi-pointe position as seen in A and B.


• Perform a normal relevé. Perform several relevés as you normally would and without thinking
  about the stirrup muscles. Note the placement of your body weight. Then, make any necessary cor-
  rection with the stirrup muscles, and repeat a relevé trying to maintain correct positioning. Which
  muscle(s) do you need to focus on using more? What cue could you utilize to help make this correc-
  tion quickly, such as when in class?

CONCEPT DEMONSTRATION 6.3