The Body Series

About

Deborah Vogel is a dancer, author, and master teacher who conducts workshops for teachers as well as student and professional dancers. Her numerous articles on dance technique and injury prevention have appeared in Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher, and Pointe Magazines. During her years in NYC she co-founded the Center for Dance Medicine with Dr. Richard Bachrach. Currently she is on faculty at Oberlin College and the OC Conservatory of Music.

My name is Alanna, and i have recently subscribed to your Dancing Smart Newsletter on a routine search on dance online, i have found what i have read so far highly informative and interesting, and also extremely motivated!!! I have just read your article on Increasing Flexibility, it has been a great read, and definitely a very to the point source of information on Fascia, a term, and part of the body I have never myself come across, or heard of!!! But it makes so much sense, as today i have returned home from my year level at college's camp, which i have managed to pull the lower part of the muscle in my back connecting the superficial back line. I have been highly curious as to what made it so painful to walk, as each step flared the pain up in that muscle, i figured there must be some connection there, but was unsure, but you have confirmed my assumption, and gave a very clear explanation I thought. I will be practicing now using careful massaging of my neck and other muscles in connection in this line. Thank you for being there for people like myself to approach, it is greatly, and warmly appreciated.

Alanna

When I came across your site it was a perfect tool for me as a teacher. I have danced since the age of 5. When I graduated from undergraduate school, I felt lost as to what I wanted to do. I was teaching dance at the time, and realized how much I enjoyed teaching technique and relating anatomy and biomechanics to dance. I found it helped to not just tell my girls what I wanted them to do, but the reasons behind what I was teaching them. Now I am in my 1st year of physical therapy school. School is very hard, but I am so motivated to learn because I cannot wait to learn more and more and be able to work with dancers upon graduation. You continue to be a role model for me.

Nicole