Experiential Learning with Adult Ballet Class
PGH Department of Rehabilitation Medicine tries out ballet for experiential learning, hosted by NFJ Ballet Alabang at their adult ballet class last weekend. We are grateful for the experience and now we understand our dancer patients much better now. During class, it was obvious which of us had previous ballet experience 
and which of us were novices at this!
Experiential learning musings in no particular order:
1. One has to be very mindful of the port de bras (moving and posing the arms) so they don’t just hang there in a limp manner. The muscles acting on the shoulder – including the scapular stabilizers – have to be strong enough to hold the position and create the lovely lines that ballerinas form.
2. We learned dance step sequences at the barre, and this reminded me that I really am not very good with learning sequential steps! Going through the steps once before we actually do them… it’s not going to sink in. It takes me weeks to learn stuff before they get translated into lovely movements. Hats off to everyone who learns motions quickly. That’s not me.
3. Mirrors give great feedback!
4. Dance teachers need lots of patience. Teacher Francis definitely had that for all of us.
5. My right hip is not as flexible as my left, and I felt it.
6. Sprung floors with “give” do make a difference – they decreased the impact forces on the foot and ankle. We didn’t do much jumping, but I can imagine my knees and ankles wouldn’t have been as happy with dancing on wood or concrete.
7. The ballet studio had great views of the surrounding area, and a lovely sunset too! I also loved that they could project the dance class outside the studio, so the parents don’t have to crowd at the door trying to watch their kids in class.
Many thanks again to NFJ Ballet Alabang for this bit of experiential learning and we look forward to further collaboration next year!
#rehabilitationmedicine
Thanks to Hannah for the photos, and Aileen & tita Gigi for letting me borrow their ballet gear for my OOTD.
