Abstract

Physical fitness indices of dancers of various mastery levels have not been sufficiently analyzed. The aim of the research was to analyze the changes in physical fitness indices of Class D sports dancers during the annual training cycle. The subjects were 14 sports dancers in Class D (seven girls and seven boys) who danced four standard and four Latin American dances. The dancers were tested four times: in November 2007, March 2008, October 2008 and February 2009. Research methods: literature review, one alternative natural experiment, and testing. We established the following indices of physical fitness: hand grip strength, frequency of fine hand movements (tapping test 6x10 s), frequency of leg movements (frequency of steps running in place 2x10 s), static balance (standing on the front of one foot), flexibility of the trunk (sit and reach test, and the second test – raising the head and the chest while lying on the back), simple and complex psychomotor reaction to a light signal. Results: The hand grip strength of the girls’ stronger hand in the first testing was 22.57 ± 2.5 kg, and the boys’ – 33.29 ± 5.33 kg. During the fourth testing the girls’ hand grip strength was 23.00 ± 3.32 kg, and the boys’ – 36.1 ± 11.28 kg. The frequency of the girls’ hand movements tended to decrease during the first 30 s. The frequency of the boys’ hand movements tended to increase during the first 40 s of the test. In the fourth testing the girls’ frequency of steps running in place was 38.00 ± 1.63 steps during the first 10 s, and the boys’ – 45.43 ± 1.53 steps. During the first testing the frequency of boys and girls’ steps did not change statistically significantly. In the first testing the indices of the sit and reach test were 39.29 ± 2.98 cm for girls and 41.57 ± 1.90 cm for boys. In the fourth testing the flexibility indices changed insignificantly. The girls’ flexibility was 40.00 ± 2.38 cm, and the boys’ – 43.57 ± 3.69 cm. The duration of the girls’ static balance standing on the front part of one foot was 56.43 ± 18.85 s, and the boys’ – 41.43 ± 5.19 s. The female dancers’ complex psychomotor reaction to a light signal with the left hand was 241.59 ± 12.88 ms, and with their left hand it was 275.12 ± 23.77 ms. The male dancers’ complex psychomotor reaction to a light signal with the left hand was 241.06 ± 49.14 ms, and with their left hand it was 240.43 ± 20.67 ms. Conclusion: The indices of male and female dancers’ strength, flexibility, balance, speed, movement frequency and psychomotor reaction changed insignificantly during the testing time, and thus we assume that the training loads did not have significant effect on the development of those indices. Verf.-Referat