Performing Arts Department, Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London, NW4 4BT, UK. Tel +44 (0)208 411 5595.
Med Probl Perform Art. 2022 Mar;37(1):37-43. doi: 10.21091/mppa.2022.1005.
The aim of this study was to develop a contemporary dance technique-specific, high-intensity dance fitness test and carry out preliminary testing into measuring the physiological intensity and reliability. The choreography of the Dance Fitness Indicator© (DFI©) is based upon Humphrey/Limón, Graham, and Cunningham techniques and includes dance elements that relate to fitness elements, that increase in intensity over four levels designed to observe changes in heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) as the DFI© progresses. Each level lasts for 4 minutes, 16 seconds, with a 1-minute rest between each level; the full DFI lasts for 20 minutes, 12 seconds.
Twelve contemporary dancers (9 females, age 24±6.86 yrs; 3 males, age 20±0.58 yrs) were taught the DFI© in a familiarization session before undertaking two test trials, within a 1-week period. Dependent variables to measure intensity were heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate (BLa).
Data for level 4 during test 1 and test 2, respectively, were: HR 184±16.79 bpm vs 187±16.18 bpm; RPE 17 ±2.43 vs 17 ±2.12; and BLa 8.9 ±2.71 mmol/L vs 9.1±2.41 mmol/L. Reliability was calculated by determining the coefficient of variation from paired samples t-tests between test 1 and test 2, which demonstrated consistency/good reliability (<5%) for end BLa (3.2%), HR (1.7%), and RPE (0.9%).
These preliminary results suggest that the DFI© requires a high physiological intensity demand, through movement-specific contemporary dance technique, relating to dance performance intensity, and is a reliable testing mode within a dance studio environment. It could also be used to assess dancers' physiological abilities to cope with high-intensity intermittent cardiovascular and technical demands of dance performance; however, further testing with greater numbers of subjects is recommended.
本研究旨在开发一种针对现代舞技巧的高强度舞蹈健身测试，并对其生理强度和可靠性进行初步测试。Dance Fitness Indicator©（DFI©）的编舞基于 Humphrey/Limón、Graham 和 Cunningham 技巧，并包含与健身元素相关的舞蹈元素，这些元素在四个设计用于观察心率（HR）和感知用力程度（RPE）变化的强度级别中逐渐增加，随着 DFI©的进行。每个级别持续 4 分 16 秒，每个级别之间休息 1 分钟；整个 DFI 持续 20 分 12 秒。
12 名现代舞者（9 名女性，年龄 24±6.86 岁；3 名男性，年龄 20±0.58 岁）在进行两次测试试验之前，参加了一次熟悉课程。用于测量强度的因变量包括心率（HR）、感知用力程度（RPE）和血乳酸（BLa）。
分别为测试 1 和测试 2 的第 4 级的数据：HR 184±16.79 bpm 与 187±16.18 bpm；RPE 17±2.43 与 17±2.12；BLa 8.9±2.71 mmol/L 与 9.1±2.41 mmol/L。通过对测试 1 和测试 2 的配对样本 t 检验确定变异系数来计算可靠性，这表明末端 BLa（3.2%）、HR（1.7%）和 RPE（0.9%）具有一致性/良好的可靠性（<5%）。
这些初步结果表明，DFI©通过与舞蹈表演强度相关的特定于现代舞技巧的运动，需要高强度的生理需求，并且是舞蹈工作室环境中可靠的测试模式。它还可以用于评估舞者应对舞蹈表演高强度间歇性心血管和技术需求的生理能力；然而，建议进行更多的测试。
