Prevention of injuries: research project for dancers
Please note this is a collaboration article exchange between Unique Tay and Project Breakalign (2017/18)
Project Breakalign was founded by Nefeli Tsiouti in 2013. I have visited one of her injury clinics in 2014 at PHD Events. I gained valuable support in terms of dance injury prevention and Nefeli kindly referred me to one of her sport therapist team members, part of Project Breakalign. My experience with Project Breakalign has certainly opened my eyes to the physiology of the dancers body, especially since I have had a major surgery and undergone numerous MRI scans and physiotherapy.
Project Breakalign is ideal for dancers rooted in Hip Hop (Breakin), however the research and treatment fits all dancers of any genre. Take a quick read below of the‘Conditioning Article Series’ to learn more about the Breakalign method.
STORYTIME learn more about my injury and how to overcome it!
VLOG: Come to the hospital with me. Sport physiotherapy!
The Breakalign Method,
Conditioning Article Series:
Written by Nefeli Tsiouti (Project Breakalign, Founder & Project Manager)
#3 Creativity and the Breakalign Method
What is the Breakalign Method? The Breakalign Method is a conditioning programme, based on the physiological and biomechanical analysis of the demands in the artform of Breaking (or ‘Breakdance’, as known by the media). Project Breakalign received funding to create the Breakalign Method from the Centre National de la Danse(2015-2016), which was researched and put together by a team of specialists that double major between dance (mostly Breaking) and a scientific discipline such as
medicine, physiotherapy, sports science, dance science, human performance and more.
Image Credit: Project Breakalign
How was the Breakalign Method created? The Breakalign Method was first and foremost created by analysing Breaking, not only from a scientific perspective as mentioned above, but also by keeping the elements of creativity and the ‘mentality’ of breaking alive. Therefore, the Breakalign Method is not just based on a set series of exercises; within the exercises there has been room left for creativity and improvisation, in order to stay true to the
elements of the Breaking artform.
Breaking and creativity:
If you are not very familiar with Breaking, it is an artform which allows its
practitioners to use their strong elements (physically or mentally), to be creative with it and to develop their skills in ways that will help them master their craft. A breaker does not necessarily do all the elements of breaking (toprock, footwork, freezes, powermoves etc), but they sometimes choose what better suits their body or what they enjoy doing the most, and they keep developing that, and this is where their creativity flows without limits. Breaking is one of the visual pleasures which offer surprise and awe to the viewer, and this is because of its spontaneity, musicality and limitless options of creativity. Therefore, the Breakalign Method creation was a very challenging task to bring into reality, in order to stay close to Breaking’s ‘mentality’.
The Breakalign
Method Audio-visual research content:
In English :
Research
phase 1: https://youtu.be/FRjiaR-ZcMc
Research
phase 2: https://youtu.be/zJjSoo6WAic
Research
phase 3: https://youtu.be/M6S-mWfntT0
For more information check: www.projectbreakalign.com
To subscribe to the Project Breakalign quarterly Newsletter email: projectbreakalign@gmail.com with
subject ‘subscribe’.
About the author:
Nefeli is a bgirl (trained with DJ Renegade, UK), having graduated with a BA in French Language & Literature (University of Athens), an MA in Choreography (Middlesex University) and an MSc in Dance Science (Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance), supported by 3 scholarships from Trinity Laban. Currently she is in the Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship Advisory Committee for Dance in Europe, she works as Associate Researcher Cyprus Musculoskeletal & Sports Trauma Research Centre, she is the Founder & Director of Project Breakalign, a prevention of injuries project. Moreover, she serves on the Board of Directors of Healthy Dancer Canada (HDC) and the United Breakin’ Association (UBA). She is also a freelance Choreographer, Dancer, and a Sports Massage Therapist. Recently she has been included as a co-opted member of the Education Committee of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science Education Committee. Nefeli has devoted her work to the mission of reducing the risk of injuries and offering career longevity to a healthier dancer, with Project Breakalign’s research, lectures, workshops and her active participation in international breaking competitions. Nefeli was awarded the following awards for her dance medicine and science research: Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund (NY, USA), Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship (Italy), Gill Clarke Resource Fund, ‘Centre National de la Danse’ research funding (France) to develop the ‘Breakalign Method’, ‘Dance UK’s Dancers’ Mentoring Programme’, finalist for the ‘Change Maker Award’ by London Inspires Awards, DanceHouse Nicosia Artistic residency 2015 & 2017.
Thank you