Exercise intensities during a ballet lesson in female adolescents with different technical ability

To investigate the exercise intensity during a typical
grade five ballet lesson, thirty-nine dancers
(13–16 yrs) were divided into three different
technical proficiency groups: low level (n = 13),
intermediate level (n = 14), and high level (n = 12).
A progressively incremented treadmill test was
administered to determine V˙ O2max, individual
ventilatory threshold (IVT), and the individual
anaerobic threshold (IAT). Oxygen uptake (V˙ O2),
heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (La) were then
evaluated during a grade five ballet lesson. Oxygen
uptake at IVT, IAT and maximal oxygen uptake
were greater (p < 0.05) in the high-level
dancers indicating a higher level of fitness. HR
and %V˙ O2max obtained during the various exercises
of the ballet lesson were similar among
groups. During the ballet lesson, low technical
level dancers had moreV˙ O2 and La values above
(p < 0.05) the IAT than the other groups. Correlation
analysis revealed that the number of exercises
performed above IAT was positively related
to anthropometric characteristics (BMI, %FM;
r = 0.36, p < 0.05; r = 0.46, p < 0.01), negatively
related to fitness parameters (V˙ O2IVT, V˙ O2IAT,
V˙
O2max; r between – 0.43 and – 0.69; p < 0.001)
and to technical level (r = – 0.70; p < 0.001). The
subjects classified as having low technical abilities
had lower fitness levels and performed more
exercises above IAT than the more skilled
dancers.