Although dance itself can provide muscle tone and core strength, you may want to try workouts that complement your dance training. Dancers can benefit from supplemental training to strengthen their core muscles, which include the abdominal muscles, according to former New York City ballet dancer Linda Hamilton in the October 2006 issue of "Dance Magazine." Move outside your dance comfort zone. Try abdominal workouts for dancers, which can have a positive impact on your overall dance training.
Pilates
The benefits of a Pilates exercise program include the development of the deep muscles in your back and abdomen, according to Dr. Beth Glosten in an article published by Spine-Health.com. Pilates exercises also promote the lengthening of muscles, which can create the look of "flat abs"--an appealing aesthetic for most dancers. Glosten says Pilates initially was used by professional dancers, before it's crossover as a mainstream fitness program during the 1980s.
The two primary styles of Pilates include exercises performed on Pilates-specific equipment, which usually is used during private or semi-private sessions; and mat exercises, which usually are used in a group class setting. Pilates exercises that target you abdominal muscles include the hundred, the roll-up, rolling like a ball, the teaser and crisscrosses.
The Lotte Berk Method
Author Marian Horosko discusses the benefits of the Lotte Berk Method in the February 1995 issue of "Dance Magazine." According to Horosko, the Lotte Berk Method is based on movements in ballet, modern dance, yoga and orthopedic back exercises.
The exercise system was created by a German dancer in the 1950s, and encompasses many aspects of fitness, including strength, flexibility and body sculpting, according to LotteBerkMethod.net. The website says the Lotte Berk Method's goal is to develop a dancer's body. Many of the exercises focus on abdominal conditioning since the method was developed as a system for women to strengthen their spine and core.
New York City Ballet Workout
Studios often encourage, or even require, students to train in ballet as a foundation for other types of dance. The strength, flexibility, posture and grace ballet dancers exhibit can be translated into other styles of dance, making the student a more skilled and technical dancer. Ballet movements often require you to engage your abdominal muscles to maintain balance or hold your legs in certain positions, so doing these exercises will work your core muscles, promoting a lean and flat stomach.
The New York City Ballet Workout uses the movements of ballet to specifically tone muscles in your legs, hips and abdominals, while working on flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and posture. Developed in 2000 by Peter Martins, the New York City Ballet's ballet master-in-chief, the exercises include stretching and strengthening movements aimed at toning the body, some specifically targeting the abdominal muscles.
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