Abstract
Ballet dancers have to perform their movements, especially with arms to express emotion or a role on the stage. Although the movement with their arms to express artistic or emotional impression might be difficult to master, no study has examined the 3-dimensional biomechanical characteristics of upper limb movements of ballet dancers. So, the purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the skilled upper limb joints movements when ballet dancers are performing the flaps of swan wings movement in Swan Lake. Five expert female dancers and 9 inexperienced age-matched females participated in the study. Nineteen reflective markers were attached to the trunk and upper limbs, and then the upper limb motion in the“ Swan Lake” was captured with 12 optical cameras. Peak values of the upper limb joints angles (shoulder, elbow, and wrist joint) and the time lag of each peak value of the upper limb joints angles were compared between groups using unpaired t test. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. As a result, the upper limb joints angles of each group showed different especially in shoulder internal rotation, elbow flexion/extension, and elbow pronation. Moreover, the time lag of upper limb joints angles of each group showed different by upward and downward arm movement. Therefore, the shoulder internal rotation, elbow flexion/extension, and elbow pronation would be one of the fundamental skills to perform the swan wings expression, and the necessary skills of upper limb joints movements are different by upward and downward arm movement when ballet dancers express the flattering swan.
