Explain the importance of experiencing a variety of different ways of moving during dance training.

As a performer, it is extremely important to be diverse. By reducing yourself to one style of dance or training, you are limiting your opportunities in the professional world and in developing as a performer. For example, in Musical Theatre, the musical could be from any time period or genre, requiring varying forms of dance such as jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, commercial, etc.  Having a diverse range can only expand a performer’s repertoire, broaden their own experience and open up more opportunities. Additionally, different styles of dance are going to work different parts of the body in varying ways. For instance, ballet technique is taught to many types of dancers, to provide a solid foundation and improve strength, flexibility, posture and alignment. Also, studies suggest that fatigue can make dancers more susceptible to injury and additional fitness training can prevent/delay the onset of fatigue. (Wilkinson, 2015)