Nureyev Foundation workshops 2017

The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation presents two workshops for the candidates during the week of the competition which will be open for observation to the public, as well as an open forum for directors, parents and teachers.

Nureyev Foundation workshop – Prix de Lausanne 2016 – Photos by Gregory Batardon and Ricardo Buas

Programme of the week

• Cool Down and Relaxation – January 30^th, 6.00-7.00pm (girls) and January 31^st, 5.00-6.00pm (boys)

A physical and psychological cool down is an important aspect of caring for the body and prepares the dancer for the following day’s training, but is often neglected by dancers. Intensive training in classes, rehearsals and performances leaves chemical by-products and causes micro-tears in the muscle and including regular cool down helps repair this damage. Psychological skills for relaxation help dancers manage challenging training and stress.

The session will take dancers through a series of exercises and stretches that will prevent blood pooling, aid by-product removal, restore range of movement, support relaxation and facilitate recovery following long days of dancing.

• Strength and Conditioning – February 1^st (girls) and 2^nd (boys), 9.00-10.15am

Ballet class focuses on building technique and artistic expression for performance. Supplemental conditioning and fitness exercises developing strength, cardiovascular capacity and power have been shown in research to support dancers’ technical training and reduce injuries.

In this session, dancers will learn ballet-specific conditioning exercises and how adding these elements to their training can improve performance.

•  Open forum for directors, parents and teachers: Supplemental Training for Dance Performance – February 2^nd, 4.30-5.15pm

Why do dancers need to improve fitness? How can supplemental training fit into already busy dance training schedules? How can dancers build strength without losing flexibility and line? Who can provide strength and conditioning for dancers?

This session will be an open discussion for directors, parents and teachers to find out more about the workshops offered by the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, and about the Foundation’s work to support the health and performance of dancers.

Nureyev Foundation workshop – Prix de Lausanne 2016 – Photos by Gregory Batardon

Team

The workshops will be led by a team of strength and conditioning coaches, health professionals and dancers, including:

• Prof. Matthew Wyon

Matthew Wyon is a Professor in Dance Science at the University of Wolverhampton, UK and a Visiting Professor at the Division of Surgery and Intervention Science, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London and ArtEZ, Institute of the Arts, The Netherlands.  At Wolverhampton he is the course leader for the MSc in Dance Science and Director of Studies for a number of dance science and medicine doctoral candidates. He is a founding partner of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, UK.  Prof. Wyon is President of International Association for Dance Medicine & Science and a past chair of the Research Committee. He has worked with numerous dancers and companies within the UK and Europe as an applied physiologist and strength and conditioning coach.  He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles in dance medicine and science.

• Orlando Goacher

Orlando is a strength and conditioning coach undertaking a master’s degree in Dance Science at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. Previously a classical ballet dancer for 12 years, he performed with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, South African Ballet Theater (SABT) and Dutch National Ballet. He studied in London at The Arts Educational and Royal Ballet School obtaining scholarships to both. He trains professional racing drivers for Ferrari and Mercedes GT2-GT3 World circuits, professional equestrian polo players and professional classical ballet dancers. Orlando studied exercise kinesiology in Canada and the United States and has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) for the past 7 years.

• Begoña Cao

Begoña was born in London, UK to Spanish parents. She trained at the Arts Educational School and The Royal Ballet Upper School. She joined the English National Ballet in 1997, and was promoted to Junior Soloist in 2000, Soloist in 2003, First Soloist in 2008 and Principal in 2009. Her main roles include Aurora and the Fairy Godmother in Kenneth Macmillan’s Sleeping Beauty, Odette / Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet and Rosaline in Rudolf Nureyev’s production of Romeo and Juliet and also in Derek Deane’s production in the round for the Royal Albert Hall in London. Other roles include Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in Wayne Eagling’s The Nutcracker, Carmen in Roland Petit’s Carmen, Manon in Kenneth Macmillan’s Manon, A Million Kisses by David Dawson, Terpsichore /Polyhymnia/ Calliope in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Schéhérazade and Mikhail Fokine’s Chopiniana/Les Sylphides, Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of A Faun, main Nymph in Nijinsky’s L’après-midi d’un Faune, Mary Skeaping’s Giselle, the leading role in Roland Petit’s La Chauve-souris and Three Preludes, Esmeralda pas de deux and Derek Deane’s Strictly Gershwin. Begoña guested with Carlos Acosta and Friends in Valencia and The London Coliseum and with the National Ballet of Tokyo dancing with Robert Tewsley in La Chauve-souris (Roland Petit). She was nominated for the Benois de la Dance 2010 (female dancers) and also for Best Female Dancer at the Critics Dance Awards and has hosted a dance gala in London in aid of two children’s charities.

• Erin Sanchez

Erin is the manager and administrator of health education and resources for the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation Medical Website and the Healthier Dancer Programme Manager at One Dance UK in London. In these roles, she organises annual conferences and workshops for researchers and healthcare and dance professionals and develops resources to support dancers’ knowledge of health and wellbeing. She also manages the international Dance Psychology Network. She holds an MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London and the Safe and Effective Dance Practice qualification. She is a registered provider for Safe in Dance International’s Healthy Dance Practice Certificate and a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.