PhysioDC

Physical Therapy

  • Home
  • About
    • Physical Therapists
      • Daniel Baumstark
      • Christopher Cousins
      • Kira Davis
      • Christina Eidi
      • Molly Horan
      • Bradley Rosenblum
      • Jahan Shiekhy
    • Treatment Philosophy
    • Patient Reviews
    • Resources
  • Services
    • Physical Therapy
    • Hand Therapy
    • Running Analysis
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Concussion Management
    • Dance Rehabilitation
    • Custom Orthotics
    • Personal Training
  • Products
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Gallery
    • Exercise Videos
  • Forms
  • Billing
    • Insurance
    • Payments
  • Blog
    • Select Your Body Part
  • Directions
  • Contact

Floor Barre Practice for Dancers

Last updated on June 3, 2020 By Kira Davis MPT 1 Comment

Efforts to prevent injury for dancers are far and wide. There are many techniques utilized. The major thing done, as with most athletes, is cross training. Dancers don’t necessarily go into the gym to run miles, stack up heavy weights or bust out the agility ladder, although some do – dependent on their style of dance and what that style requires. However, cross training in the dance world usually involves things such as yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, and floor-barre.

Floor-barre is exactly what it sounds like. It is more recognized in the ballet world, as ballet is the main style that utilizes a barre in regular practice. Floor-barre was developed in the 1960s by a former dancer, Zena Rommett, as a technique to strengthen and help dancers gain alignment awareness without the stress from gravity when in the upright position.

This type of conditioning goes through most of the basic exercises that are done standing at the barre, such as plié, tendu, passé, développé, and battements, but all while lying on the floor. These leg movements are not the only things that have the focus in a floor-barre, but there is also great attention to detail in spinal, pelvic and hip alignment for basic stance position.

As mentioned in the previous blog about using natural turnout, doing floor-barre is one way to help really achieve the proper maximum natural turnout to help prevent injury that happens when turnout is forced by just using the friction of the floor against your feet. Floor-barre also helps dancers learn the awareness of arm, shoulder and neck placement.

Although this conditioning is very gentle, due to the decreased gravitational force on the joints, it is very rigorous and incredibly helpful in dancers making huge gains in flexibility, core strength, and awareness in body placement.

Does your dance studio offer floor-barre? If you are trying to enhance your technique or are nursing injury and want to maintain strength and flexibility, start taking a floor-barre class. Many studios will offer this conditioning class by a certified instructor. You can also visit a dance rehabilitation specialist that can help with teaching you floor-barre exercises with proper placement, which can be practiced in formal physical therapy and at home.

Filed Under: Dance, Exercise & Fitness



Additional Articles

The Healthcare Plight of the Working Dancer
ballet shoes
A Ballet Class en Flat in Pointe Shoes
The Anatomy of First Position in Ballet

Are You a “Motor Moron?”
ballet dancer exercising
Comprehensive Guide for Dancers Staying in Shape During the COVID-19 Pandemic
dancer in contemplation
What Is the Topple Test for Dancers?

About Kira Davis MPT

Kira Davis has been practicing as a licensed physical therapist (license #PT870656) in the outpatient orthopedic setting since 2006 in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. She received her Masters of Physical therapy in 2005 from Howard University and her Bachelor of Science with a concentration in the Pre-Physical Therapy program in 2003 from Howard University. She has experience addressing many types of sports injuries and is herself an avid soccer player. Trained in classical dance since the age of 3 and an active dance student, she strives to be one of the area's elite physical therapists for the dance community.

FTC Compliance Disclaimer: PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.

physical therapist recommended products

Discussion

  1. Cathrine Katsigianni says

    November 15, 2021 at 9:29 am

    Hello, is there any research about the effect of floor Barre on dancers? I am planning to do a study regarding this topic but cannot find relevant literature. Many thanks!

    Reply

Ask a Physical Therapist a Question Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Disclaimer: By clicking on the I Agree button below, the individual posting a question fully understands that any response to the question is merely the opinion of the physical therapist and should not be taken as a prescribed course of action. Any advice given by the therapist must be cleared with the treating physician involved in direct patient care. The person posing the question absolves the responder of any liability in regards to opinions given.

four × three =

Contact PhysioDC

Office: 202-223-8500
Fax: 202-379-9299
Email Us
Listen to Our Podcast

Physical Therapy Office Location

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20036

Click here for directions

Offering the Following Services

  • Physical Therapy
  • Hand Therapy
  • Running Analysis
  • Functional Dry Needling
  • Concussion Management
  • Dance Rehabilitation
  • Custom Orthotics

Select Your Body Part

Click the image below to try our Select Your Body Part tool to read articles relevant to you.

Most Popular Articles

  • 1. Why Won’t My Elbow Straighten?
  • 2. When Can I Start Working Out After Shoulder Surgery?
  • 3. Managing Expectations When Recovering from Labral Repair
  • 4. Shoulder Surgery: When Can I Get Rid of My Shoulder Sling?
  • 5. Why Are My Ring Finger & Pinky Finger Numb?
  • 6. Two Long-Term Effects of Ankle Sprains
  • 7. Post-Surgical Ankle Boot? Please Get a Lift For Your Other Shoe!
  • 8. How to Sleep Comfortably after Shoulder Surgery
  • 9. Physical Therapist Reviews Shaun T’s Insanity Routine
  • 10. Do Your Ribs Move?
  • 11. Hip Labral Repair Rehabilitation: What To Expect
  • 12. Why Should I Stretch My Back on a Foam Roll?
  • 13. Physical Therapist CEUs (Continuing Education Units)

Recent Posts

  • Ten Common Ways To Strain Your Neck
  • Swan Neck Deformity of the Finger
  • Pride and Exercise
  • Can You Do This Simple Exercise?
  • Five Holistic Strategies for Managing Pain
  • The Healthcare Plight of the Working Dancer
  • How Long Will It Take Me To Recover From Surgery?
  • Right Side Dominant?
  • Getting en Pointe: For the Progressing Dancer
  • Ruling Out Alternative Causes Of Spinal Pain

Join the Discussion

  • Nikolai Wyman-Beauregard on Experiencing Stiff Hands?
  • Anna on Getting en Pointe: For the Progressing Dancer
  • Barbara on Why Won’t My Finger Straighten?
  • Karo on I Can’t Open My Hand All the Way: A Look at Dupuytren’s Disease
  • Jimmy on Low Back Problems Can Be a Real Pain in the Butt
  • Cathrine Katsigianni on Floor Barre Practice for Dancers
  • Cathy Freeland on Should I Use Ice or Should I Use Heat?
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on Can You Balance on One Leg?
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on Microfracture Knee Surgery Rehabilitation
  • Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT on Review of Specialized Sleeping Pillow

PhysioDC Address

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20036
Entrance on K Street

Find us on Google Maps

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday    7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Contact PhysioDC

Office: 202-223-8500
Fax: 202-379-9299

Email Us through our online contact form.

Copyright © 2023 Washington PhysioDC, LLC · Sitemap · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer
PhysioDC is a unique, physical therapist owned & operated rehabilitation clinic conveniently located in downtown Washington, D.C.

Resources · Recommended Products · Exercise Videos · Podcasts · Photo Gallery

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for Educational Purposes Only and is not designed to diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure any health conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated statements about these health topics or any suggested product compositions. Answers to questions submitted are merely the opinion of the physical therapist and should not be taken as a prescribed course of action. Any advice given by the therapist must be cleared with the treating physician involved in direct patient care. The person posing the question absolves the responder of any liability in regards to opinions given. PhysioDC insists that all patients receive approval from a prescribing physician prior to starting a structured exercise program involving any of the exercises included on this site. PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.