Dancers train for long hours to condition the body to perform stunning acts of artistry through movement expression. Daily tasks outside of dance training can unwittingly compromise the diligent efforts during classwork and rehearsals. The book goes beyond descriptions of the musculoskeletal system to improve performance. The reflective practice of Functional Awareness(R) teaches strategies to change daily habits in living and demonstrates how these small simple shifts can have a profound effect on ease in action.

This book introduces the reader to the reflective practice of Functional Awareness(R). It uses foundational information of anatomy and motor learning to guide the reader toward a deeper understanding of their personal body structure. The movement explorations and anatomical visualizations to improve dance skills and provide lifelong tools for body wellness.

Each chapter provides essentials in functional anatomy with over 60 beautiful illustrations to buoy the reader through the content. An application to improve specific dance movements using mental training through anatomical visualizations along with tactile body mapping. Finally, each chapter contains a mindful practice to integrate the practices into daily life in order to release unnecessary tension, improve posture, and better support the body outside of dance class and rehearsals.

About the Author:
Allegra Romita (MA, CMA, EdM, RYT) is co-creator of Functional Awareness: Anatomy in
Action(R). Allegra has presented workshops and keynote speeches on the Functional Awareness approach worldwide from New York City to San Diego, from Helsinki to Hong Kong. She has presented sessions at the American College Dance Association (ACDA), the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and as a keynote speaker at the Somatics and Dance Conference. Allegra serves as the Program Administrator and Faculty for NYU Steinhardt Dance Education program. Since 2011, Allegra has been performing regionally and nationally with Sydnie L.
Mosley Dances and is the Artistic Visioning Partner with the collective. Allegra graduated from the University of Michigan with honors with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Movement Science. She received her MA in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt and EdM in Motor Learning and Control from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her passion for somatic investigation led her to certification (CMA) in Laban Movement Analysis through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies. Allegra teaches at Brooklyn Yoga Project and Heatwise Yoga in Brooklyn, NY, and co-teaches in the teacher training programs at both studios.

Nancy Wanich-Romita is a Registered Somatic Movement Educator, co-founder of Functional Awareness(R) Anatomy in Action, and Director of the Alexander Technique Mid-Atlantic Teacher Training Course and yogi. Nancy is on the faculty at Towson University for over 35 years developing and teaching course work in anatomy and kinesiology, embodied anatomy Alexander technique and most recently, yoga. She has taught at the 92ndSt Y, American Dance Festival, Connecticut College, SUNY Purchase, UMBC, Peabody Conservatory of Music. Her collaborative research with Johns Hopkins Medicine was presented at the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.