By MEGHAN WIEBOLDT
NJDTE catches up with Lenore Pavlakos-Morales,
NJDTE faculty member to discuss the influential training practice of Floor-Barre®
NJDTE faculty member to discuss the influential training practice of Floor-Barre®
Photo courtesy of Zena Romett, Floor-Barre® | Melinda Jackson- Floor-Barre® Mentor
Floor-Barre® is a technique inspired by ballet that counteracts the intense, weight-bearing conditions often used by dancers and athletes alike. The class's low-impact and great attention to muscle alignment acts as a prominent resource for dancers to isolate muscle regions and strengthen joints along the body. NJDTE faculty member Lenore Pavlakos-Morales shares her experience with Floor-Barre® and the benefits of the dance-inspired fitness practice. Through the practice of Zena-Rommett's Floor-Barre® technique, dancers practice lengthening the legs and creating more space in the hip sockets. When moving to a standing position, dancers recall their muscles feeling elongated and body awareness increased.
"Through the practice of Zena-Rommett's Floor-Barre® Technique, dancers practice lengthening the legs and creating more space in the hip sockets. They can then find an increase in turnout as the inner thigh muscles strengthen by the use of parallel exercises. When moving to a standing position the body feels taller, lighter and correctly aligned, prepared to approach movement with a new sense of freedom." -Lenore Pavlakos-Morales
How/why did you start training in Floor-Barre®?
I discovered Floor-Barre® while taking classes at Steps on Broadway in New York City. I would often pass the studio and notice all of the dancers working on the floor moving in parallel and passing through many familiar ballet positions. I was curious and decided to take a class and loved it!
Zena Rommett was teaching at the time and I was very fortunate to study with her.
Photo courtesy of New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble
I discovered Floor-Barre® while taking classes at Steps on Broadway in New York City. I would often pass the studio and notice all of the dancers working on the floor moving in parallel and passing through many familiar ballet positions. I was curious and decided to take a class and loved it!
Zena Rommett was teaching at the time and I was very fortunate to study with her.
Photo courtesy of New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble
"As a professional dancer, I found Floor-Barre® to be an excellent way to strengthen and lengthen my body. Rommett's Floor-Barre® and superior technique enabled me to improve my anatomical awareness and contributed to an injury-free professional career." Artistic Director Nancy Turano
What is the purpose of Floor-Barre® for dancers?
Working on the floor allows for dancers to focus on correct alignment of the body beginning at the pelvis. Basic ballet movements are executed in parallel and then turned out. In Floor-Barre®, all exercises are done slowly with careful attention to the alignment of the hip and toe. Weak points of the body such as misaligned hips, sickled feet or bent knees are quickly spotted and corrected. These points can often lead to injury as well as ailments such as tendonitis. Their correction and proper alignment is the best injury prevention.
Working on the floor allows for dancers to focus on correct alignment of the body beginning at the pelvis. Basic ballet movements are executed in parallel and then turned out. In Floor-Barre®, all exercises are done slowly with careful attention to the alignment of the hip and toe. Weak points of the body such as misaligned hips, sickled feet or bent knees are quickly spotted and corrected. These points can often lead to injury as well as ailments such as tendonitis. Their correction and proper alignment is the best injury prevention.
Benefits of Floor-Barre®
- Encourages use of correct alignment
- Develops key muscles
- Relieves stress on joints
- Increase flexibility and range of motion
- Supports injury prevention and recovery
Floor-Barre® Free Trial Class
with Lenore Pavlokas-Morales
Monday, September 17th
11:30 AM-12:45 PM
Location: New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble
315B Springfield Ave, Summit, NJ 07901
[email protected]
908.273.5500
www.njdte.org
11:30 AM-12:45 PM
Location: New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble
315B Springfield Ave, Summit, NJ 07901
[email protected]
908.273.5500
www.njdte.org
