2 3 Technical Tuesday Mandible | Ballet Webb

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Technical Tuesday Mandible



Technical Tuesday Mandible


A not uncommon problem for dancers is holding excess tension in inappropriate areas. Often this area involves the jaw, and/or clenching the teeth – especially during challenging movement
combinations.

The bone of the lower jaw is called the mandible, and it is here that tension likes to reside. This tension causes a cascading series of unfortunate events, like tightening in the neck muscles, and sometimes a “jutting forward” position of the head. Not good.

Facial anatomy is complex, but basically it involves four different muscles: the masseter, the temporalis, the medial pterygoid, and the lateral pterygoid. More than you wanted to know? Okay.

Dancers need to notice when they are holding too much tension in their jaw. That’s the important thing.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Anatomical Secret #25l:  
The bone of the lower jaw is called the mandible, and it is the largest and strongest bone in the face.

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Quote of the Day:
“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.”
Steve Marabol

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