Minute Masterclass Episode 9

Welcome to your one-minute masterclass. I’m Andrea Trench, founder of DiscoverDance. In order to balance successfully, we must have healthy vision and developed vestibular and proprioception systems.

According to Wikipedia, “the vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the leading contribution to the sense of balance and spatial orientation for the purpose of coordinating movement with balance.”. The more we spin, roll, sway, swing our upper body, perform head isolations or head/tail movements, the more our vestibular system develops. 

Proprioception is the awareness of our body position and movement in space. Offering uneven surfaces, such as up and down a wedge mat or across tactile stepping stones* or closing our eyes while standing on one foot, help develop what is often referred to as our sixth sense: proprioception. 

Balance is a foundational skill we need our little ones to develop BEFORE they can successfully advance in their specialized dance skills. Therefore, balancing activities should be a part of every early childhood dance class. For more information, visit DiscoverDance.com.

*Click HERE to purchase tactile stepping stones for balance improvement.