Dancers Need Rest!

During July and August, dancers are being encouraged to share photographs of themselves resting - and not dancing! - on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, and as a result they could win prizes from both dance magazine Dancing Times and national dance body Dance UK! Using the hashtag #dancersneedrest, dancers who post images of themselves taking time out from rehearsals or busy schedules could win! The social media campaign has been launched in a partnership between the Dancing Times and Dance UK to promote the importance of rest and encourage dancers to look after themselves throughout a career which relies so heavily on their bodies being adequately rested and prepared for the next day. The competition is open to all professional and student dancers, and to anyone else who loves dancing! The images can depict dancers doing anything that offers their bodies a rest from the usual rigour of normal dance training and performing - the more creative the better. The winners of the social media competition will be judged by both the news editor of Dancing Times and Dance UK's Healthier Dancer programme manager, Erin Sanchez. The winner will then be able to claim a year's Dance UK membership, a twelve month Dancing Times subscription and also a selection of books about dancers' health in order to prolong careers and take care of the bodies that are used for this. The campaign is part of Dance UK's work in promoting healthier dance and training practice; adequate rest of a vital component of a balanced training programme as it gives the brain and body time to process movement. Rest also reduces the physical and psychological risks of burnout and injuries when the body is overused. Hurry, the deadline for entries is 31 August!