periodization: training tomorrow’’s dancers

The training of elite dancers has not changed in the last 60 years; it is often only those that have survived the training that go on to have a career, not necessarily the most talented. It is time to challenge and change how we train tomorrow’s professional dancers. This book brings you the reasons why and all tools to implement change.

10 years ago, Matthew Wyon and Gaby Allard introduced a new pedagogical approach to training vocational dancers: Periodization. This ground-breaking new methodology provides an adaptable framework to optimise training - it’s goal-focused, fits to performance schedules, and is highly sustainable for the dancer. It is the future.

For the first time, Wyon and Allard have put their discoveries to paper. Periodization provides clear context to why change is needed, and explores the theoretical underpinnings of this new approach and how it can be effectively applied to a dance environment.

Matthew Wyon is Professor in Dance Science at the University of Wolverhampton, UK
Gaby Allard is the former Artistic Director at ArtEZ Dance Conservatoire, UK
Derrick Brown is an international dance teacher and Dance Science course leader at the University of Bern, Switzerland
Erin Sanchez is a PhD student in talent ID in dance and Manager of Health, Wellbeing, and Performance at One Dance UK