Aspiring to Portman's Black Swan

See Black Swan?

Jealous?

Us too.

Everyone wants to look like a dancer. We watch shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars and are fascinated by dancer's bodies. Afterall, they are lean, toned and carry excellent posture. But let's face it, dancers work hard for their physiques and add to that, some charisma, attitude and a boat loads of talent and they are now stars.

What we tend to forget is the amount of hard physical and mental labour dancing like that takes. Every one of those dancers who actually mad the cut (and the countless who don't), have put in a lifetime of toning, honing, injuries, pain, blood, sweat and tears. All for the opportunity to dance professionally. And if they don't advance, they go right back to doing what they did before... dance. Albeit, with a little more cache.

Whether you have the skills to advance or not - are you a closet moonwalker? - attaining a dancer's body requires some specific type of training.

Workouts that will shape long, lean and lithe muscles (like a dancers) requires cross training, muscle lengthening exercises (like in pilates) and also exercises designed to tone, sculpt and strengthen your long muscles.  Being a dancer, I have listened to clients, friends and fans always talk about how their ideal body shape is that of a dancer, and if there was any way they could attain that, they would jump all over it!

Different is a good thing. Who wants to keep doing the same workout everyday, especially when there is no progress? The best exercise regime will challenge your body each time you're in the gym and will improve you through movements that enable you to do more challenging and fun exercises that immediately let your body know what muscles.

Dancers bodies form over years of variable training that involves plyometrics and strength and cross-training movements. Exercises in the gym that force your body to 'think' and respond in different ways will build more muscle and also encourage healthier joints through the use of three-dimensional training.

Photo source

Roland Semprie
		About the author:
		Roland Semprie is the Founder of Roland Semprie Rosedale Inc (rolandsemprie.com). Roland is a Medical Exercise Specialist (MES), a Certified Earth Shiatsu Therapist (EST) with two advanced post graduate certifications, a Certified Fitness Consultant, a Sport Movement Specialist, an Infra-Red Non-Thermal Laser Practitioner, a Certified Acupuncturist, a Jade Stone Massage Therapist, a Certified Level 2 Kettle Bell Trainer, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist in Canada and the U.S. and the only Fitness and Healthcare Professional in the world licensed to treat, diagnose and train others as a Doctor of SCENAR.
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