Customer Reviews

Conditioning for Dance

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm a professional who utilizes applied biomechanics for a
living. I also study Tai Chi and other internal martial arts.
I am no dancer. I've been exposed through my profession to
Feldenkrais, Pilates, and yoga. Guess what? They're all
virtually the same!

I was turned on to this book by a martial arts colleague.
It has changed the way we look at our martial arts practice.
Franklin does a really nice job of describing the pertinent
functional anatomy in many key areas of your body (pelvis and
pelvic floor, including iliopsoas, back, legs, internal organs,
etc.)-- specifically the importance of key biomechanical
properties. He describes very enriching visualization and touch/
feel exercises to induce greater awareness and relaxation,
thereby promoting function. Higher kicks and jumps, deeper
squats (plie's), all with less effort. It's clear, and the
exercises work!

There are exercises for awareness, relaxation, alignment,
stretching, and strengthening. They are simple, easily done
with small Pilates-type balls and Thera-band, but some
are quite hard and take some work!

My only complaint is that some of his diagrams lack detail,
or there aren't enough diagrams or pictures to fully elucidate
the anatomy or the exercises. He does provide excellent
descriptive text, however.

I've recommended this text to other martial artists, to my
colleagues, to physical therapists, and to medical students.
Well done, and I will certainly add some of his other books to \
my wish list!

As a pre-professional ballet student, I had been looking for exercises to improve my alignment and technique. When I found this book, I absolutely knew that this was the key. Franklin is the great pioneer with the idea that releasing tension enhances your technique and decreases injury potential. His conditioning exercises deal a lot with imagery, something that helps you so much that you have no idea until you try it. I highly recommend this book to all students and teachers of dance, particularly ballet. Franklin's exercises mostly deal with using therabands and rolling balls which is very effective.

I adore Eric Franklin; he is absolutely brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!

This book should be a mandatory textbook for all dance students and trainees alike.An awesome tool for teachers who really want to focus on improving their students alignment without the normal bustle with a standard class. Mr. Franklin takes you on a journey that allows you to discover your body and know its limitations and how to get better. The information in this book is priceless. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a full-time career in dance. Your body will never be the same again.

This book has been very helpful to me as I returned to ballet at 27 after a two year hiatus. I purchased the Franklin Method balls and found them very useful in implementing some of the exercises. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to increase their abilities and lenghten the life of their physical abilities.

I am inspired by Eric Franklin's style of imagery and toning for dance and life. I practice and study belly dance of all types (cabaret, fusiobm tribal, etc.) and felt a need for additional understanding of toning and timing of various stretches in the warm up and cool down. The author has thought, practiced, and taught his techniques to thousands of dancers and has extensive knowledge of successes. His practical wisdom makes tremendous sense to me in my experience with Feldenkrais, Functional Anatomy, and yoga. I highly recommend this book to 'humans with bodies', and in particular, those that enjoy moving with grace and ease. Happy living!

I am NOT a dancer. I am just an advanced beginner in Yoga.

I'm not sure how I found this book, but I'm more than glad I did. I have chronic lower back pain, and the excercises using balls are very therapeutic.

Franklin's use of imagery, his explanations and wonderful drawings of anatomy are simply fantastic.
I have found that just reading the book and not doing anything has helped my yoga and my posture. Of course, actually doing the exercises is even better!

I would be delighted if Franklin put out a DVD with this kind of material. I have bought many yoga and dance DVDs and the thing I do not like about almost every single one of them is not explaining in any way WHY a certain movement or posture may be beneficial. There's all just mindless work-outs.

As a pilates/belly dance teacher (and performer) I know the importance of using visualisation techniques to release tension, increase range of motion, and free the body. This book has greatly expanded my teaching repertoire and also my understanding of the core musculature, particularly the pelvis (the power center). Highly recommend this to anyone no matter what their occupation!
Try his other books as well. All excellent!

Franklin's books take a different approach to Dance Conditioning which every dancer should become familiar with. The book has anatomical pictures and and advice on how to focus on the proper muscles to improve dance technique. This book is a must for any dancer who wants to improve their performance and prevent injury as well as any teacher, trainer or PT who works with dancers.

This book is basically very reader-friendly with lots of pictures and descriptions.
Most exercises include the use of long therabands

I've always loved dancing, though not professionally as a prefer club-style. While I haven't attempted other forms of dance, hip hop has always provided an extreme work-out and took an exceptional amount of energy.
I followed Blake McGrath and Benji Schwimmer closely during the "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox TV (call me corny but we all have hopes and dreams).
More recently I went to California after seeing the dance company Coastal Dance Rage was now co-owned by Blake McGrath and Josh & Shannon Mather - After leaving the studio after the first time I was completely exhausted. As I was leaving on my third day someone leaving the studio handed me this book and wow - incredible, I've never felt better and more aware of my actions. My flexibility as improved greatly, which was a key failure point previously that I could not get beyond.
Unfortunately I never saw the the person that handed me the book again - so to whomever you were - Thank you!