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Advice for teachers -Dance

Unit 1 - Area of Study 4: Awareness and maintenance of the dancer's body

Outcome 4

Describe key approaches to wellbeing and health practices for dancers and essential aspects of physiology, and demonstrate the safe use and maintenance of the dancer’s body.

Examples of learning activities

Use the internet and other sources to research functions of the dancer’s body. Write a report that outlines essential aspects of physiology as they relate to the dancer.
Study the anatomy and physiology of the body relevant to dancers.
Investigate common injuries and their treatments and list safe practices that a dancer should be aware of.
Undertake a systematic investigation of health and wellbeing issues faced by dancers.

Detailed example

Investigation of health and wellbeing issues for dancers

Week/topic	Research and learning topics
Weeks 1 and 2 Posture and alignment	The spine and spinal deviations Aspects of alignment
Weeks 3 and 4 Muscles and stretching	Muscle function, types and major groups Stretching: when, how, why
Week 5 Injuries and injury management	Common injuries Injury mangement, prevention, treatment
Week 6 Safe dance practice	Safe dance practice principles Purpose of warm up and cool down
Weeks 7 and 8 Maintaining the dancer's body	Nutrition and diet Calcium, iron, hydration
Week 9 Maintaining wellbeing	Wellbeing and mental health Sleep
Week 10 Assessment	Refer to the VCE Dance Study Design for assessment formats