Three ballerina core exercises from American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Skylar Brandtand why she never does crunches or planks.

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Youll never catchAmerican Ballet Theatreprincipal dancerSkylar Brandtdoing traditional core exercises.

Experts in This Article

Skylar Brandt is a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.

woman sweating in the gym

Skylar Brandt is a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.

But you wont be sweatingyoure connecting to your core in a different way.

(Brandt already doesplentyofthose.)

Theyre slow, and steady, and barely involve much movement at all.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

She gets them firing with these three moves:

1.

Marching

2.

Heel slides

3.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Her daily method to develop serious core strength is far more straightforward: Maintaining herposture.

If youre doing it somewhat properly, it engages the core at all times, she says.

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Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

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What constitutes proper posture to a ballerina?

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

My teacher describes it as feeling like the belly button is attached to the spine, says Brandt.

Some people misconstrue that as sucking in or holding your breath.

That classic look of grace and power that ballet dancers have?

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

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