"In the basement studio of the New Ballet in San Jose, a single figure crouched in a low lunge lifts his head, unfolding upwards like a flower turning toward a rising sun. He traverses the space in a series of gentle, sweeping steps as others come to meet him on the dance floor. With a sequence of delicate spins and gravity-defying lifts, he and the growing company of dancers seem to float across the room to the triumphant brass of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" music."
"Breathtaking as the movement is, another, perhaps more wondrous ballet is taking place, largely invisible to the eye. Every time we dance - whether we are rehearsing for a classic holiday dance show or cutting a rug in our kitchens, a silent symphony of systems are firing up throughout our bodies to allow us to move it to music. Decades of science reveal just how complex it is to move to the beat,"
A dancer in a San Jose studio performs sweeping, gravity-defying movements to Tchaikovsky while invisible physiological systems orchestrate each motion. Dancing activates coordinated groups of muscles, joints, and sensory inputs; even a simple step-touch can involve around 40 muscles. Human sensing extends beyond five classic senses to include bodily awareness systems that manage balance, timing, and spatial orientation. Decades of scientific research show that moving to music requires intricate sensorimotor integration. Study of biomechanics and internal timing mechanisms illuminates how training refines coordination and why dance produces wide-ranging physical and mental benefits.
Read at The Mercury News
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