Pirouette Study 2011

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Skilled Ballet Dancers Wanted!

Project title: Analysis of the angular momentum generation and center-of-mass motion in pirouette en dehors

The Biomechanics Laboratory at Texas Woman’s University-Denton Campus is seeking potential participants (both male and female ballet dancers) for a ballet research study with intention to investigate the strategies and mechanisms used by skilled ballet dancers in developing stable rotation (angular momentum) and the center-of-mass motion in pirouette en dehors.

This is a motion analysis study in which your pirouette trials will be captured real-time with an optical motion capture system.  The time commitment for this single data collection session study will be approximately 1 hour.

The participation in the study is completely voluntary and you may choose not to be a part of the study at any time during the course of research study. You will be asked to perform multiple trials of single, double, and triple pirouettes en dehors outfitted with our reflective marker system for motion capture (see the figure on the left).

In order to qualify for the current study you must meet at least the following minimum criteria: 

• Five years or more ballet experience
• Between 18 and 30 years of age
• Injury-free at the time of data collection
• Must be able to perform double and triple pirouettes en dehors skillfully

There will be no monetary compensation for participation in this study.  The benefit for you, the participant, in this study will be an opportunity to participate in a dance research and a copy of the final study report, which may assist you in better understanding of your dance technique.  If you are interested, you will also have a chance to view your computerized pirouette trials captured.

Here are some more details of the research procedures:

• All testing will take place at the Motion Analysis Laboratory, TWU-Denton campus.
• You will be asked to wear a black leotard and tights which are typical in dance practices and bring classical ballet shoes.
• Your mass (weight), height, age, and experience will be recorded.
• You will be provided with a participant preparation room to change clothes and get ready.
• For the purposes of motion capture, a total of 48 small (1-cm diameter) reflective markers will be placed on specific body landmarks, some over the clothes/tights (e.g. pelvis and legs) and some directly on the body (e.g. arms), using double-sided tape: 5 on the pelvic area, 9 on each leg, 5 on the trunk, 8 on each arm, and 4 on the head.  Markers will be placed by a researcher of the same gender in the preparation room.
• You will be asked to perform pirouette en dehors on the force plates covered with Marley, a typical floor covering used in dance studios and stages.  The force plate will measure the forces acting between the ground and your foot (see the figure on the left).
• You will be asked to perform 6 trials of single, double and triple revolution pirouettes each.  You will be given instruction before each trial, and then will complete the turn to recorded music.

If interested in this study, please do not hesitate to contact the principal investigator by using the following information:

Young-Hoo Kwon, Ph.D.
Professor of Kinesiology and Director
YKwon@twu.edu*

*There is a potential risk of loss of confidentiality in all email, downloading, and internet transactions.