Released on = January 30, 2007, 2:24 am

Press Release Author = lisa howell

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = A fantastic new resource in the education of young dancers
was launched this week - and promises to put specific exercises and testing tools
essential to a dancers safe progression into pointe shoes

Press Release Body = A fantastic new resource in the education of young dancers was
launched this week - and promises to put specific exercises and testing tools
essential to a dancers safe progression into pointe shoes, once exclusively
available in private therapy sessions with a Specialized Dance Physical Therapist,
within the reach of every young dancer.

Called "The Perfect Pointe Book", this innovative dancing companion was designed by
Lisa Howell, a Dance (Physiotherapist) Physical Therapist based in Sydney Australia.
Her company, Perfect Form Physiotherapy has developed a unique system of preparing
girls for the demands of pointe work, which will enable any aspiring dancer to
dramatically accelerate the development of the mobility, strength and knowledge
needed to progress on to pointe shoes safely.

Lisa is a respected practitioner, well known in local dancing circles for her
dramatic results with young dancers and professionals alike. She is passionate
about the education of dancers and their relationship with their own body, not only
to prevent injury, but to extend the boundaries of what each dancer believes is
possible.

The 'Perfect Pointe Book' is a 124 page downloadable 'e-book' manual. It takes the
girls systematically though a series of tests and exercises, organised into four
easy stages, and is rapidly finding its way into the eager hands of the worldwide
online dance community.

Each stage has at least two tests for the dancer to complete, with clear photographs
and a check-list to ensure all parts of the test are performed correctly. The tests
are followed by detailed descriptions of what each weakness identified may mean, and
a program of exercises, all beautifully illustrated, that address each of these
areas. The focus is on education, including the anatomy of each area, as well as
exactly why strength in that area is so vital.

"It is one thing to know that you need to 'be strong enough' to progress onto pointe
shoes; it is completely something else to know exactly how to test for specific
weaknesses and the correct strengthening exercises for each of those weaknesses.
This guide is the first that allows young dancers, and their teachers, to work out
exactly where their weaknesses lie, in order to make their training exercises as
targeted, and therefore as effective, as possible. This book provides those much
needed tools in a fun, easy to read, interactive format!" said Lisa Howell.

Lisa has also created a FREE weekly Dancers Newsletter, to answer any specific
questions dancers may have in relation to pointe work, or any other dance related
topics.

"'The Perfect Pointe Book' is the first product of a series designed to educate
dancers as they progress through the grades and vocational training on their way to
pursue dance as a profession. My aim is develop a comprehensive system that educates
dance students through fun and interactive courses and products, so that they can
enjoy long careers, avoiding many of the easily preventable chronic injuries that
plague many current professional dancers." Lisa enthused.

"Often dance teachers find the specifics of training the foot strength needed for
pointe difficult as it came naturally to them. However for many people, the isolated
strength needed in the feet must be specifically trained, especially as many
children who grow up in cities spend little time bare foot on different surfaces,
which naturally trains the tiny intrinsic muscles of the feet. Gaining strength and
awareness of these muscles early in their dance training is absolutely priceless in
its power to reduce blisters, pain and injury en pointe,' said Lisa.

Feedback from dance students and teachers alike has been astounding in the short
time this book has been available to the public. \" The Perfect Pointe Book fills a
wide gap in the education of ballet students in many countries. Lisa Howell is well
qualified to answer all the \"questions you have always wanted to ask\" about pointe
work and gives generously of her knowledge in terms which everyone (teachers,
students and parents) can understand. The best thing about this book is that shows
the student how best to prepare for pointe work and how to improve and maintain
their strength for further training. This book can be highly recommended as a tool
for teachers as well as students of classical ballet. \" volunteered Jane Allyn
(ARAD, Former Soloist and Company Teacher, now Co-Director of Ecole Ballet Studios,
Sydney, Australia )

To learn more about 'The Perfect Pointe Book' and Lisa's FREE Dancers Newsletter,
visit her website: www.theperfectpointebook.com

Media contact:
Lisa Howell (B.Phty),
lisahowell@perfectformphysio.com
Website: www.theperfectpointebook.com


Web Site = http://www.theperfectpointebook.com

Contact Details = Suite 904, 121 Walker St
North Sydney
NSW
Australia
+61 2 9922 7721
lisa.dancephysio@gmail.com