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The Importance Of Physical Fitness

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Since the whole body is used while dancing, physical fitness is a necessity in regards to proper execution of steps, reducing the risk of injury, and increasing the longevity of a performer’s career. According to Koutedakis, “physical fitness is an individual’s ability to meet demands of specific physical tasks.” Aerobic strength allows dancers to work harder for longer periods of time; an increase in stamina helps dancers get through demanding pieces and classes. ___Muscular strength can also be applied in regards to fitness as it helps reduce injuries and focuses on exercise specific to a certain outcome (Irvine). A common misconception is that dancers do not need strength training because bulging muscles are contradictory to the smooth, elongated lines of the dancer aesthetic. In actuality, there are two types of muscles that can be built: slow and fast muscle fibers. Slow muscles are leaner and are more flexible. Fast muscles are the ones that bulge; they are used largely in jumping, hence male dancers having large quadriceps that aide in their high jumps. Resistance training is often used as a way to increase muscle strength without increasing muscle mass in a drastic way. Overloading is the only way to increase muscle strength during training; a muscle must reach its maximum capacity of contraction in order for true generation of muscle to begin. It is also imperative that the muscles that come in pairs, an example being the quadriceps and hamstrings of the legs, grow

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