Regimen Changes Body by Linda Boultinghouse by Permission of The Register Citizen Torrington, Connecticut

Dante says Madeux has made "major changes in her body using a regimen Dante describes as unique and experimental.

Ballet companies look for "Balanchinesque" dancers, the ones with the tall, thin shape, says Dante. ("Balanchinesque" refers to George Balanchine, a co-founder of the New York City Ballet, and noted choreographer.)  "It's unfortunate when you get a student as talented as Cheryl, and not have the ideal shape..."

However, Madeux has changed that, through a "very careful, very controlled situation," Dante says.

Stephen Apatow, a sports consultant from Milford, who initially came to Nutmeg Ballet to train with Dante, began working with Madeux a couple of months ago.  Through a combination of diet, additional exercise (including swimming) and special workouts based on what Apatow describes as biomechanical movements, Madeux has lost about 10 pounds and more importantly, has increased the range of motion of her joints, and has changed "muscle function and thus the visual line of her body," Apatow notes.

Dante said it took some time for Madeux to adjust to the changes.  Madeux says, "I feel very good. In the beginning, it was strange....I would be off my center." But, now "I'm more confident because my line looks better.  I feel more centered..."

Apatow says Madeux "has changed phenomenally...her technical training, her mind are unbelievable.  Now she is fine tuning the mechanics of her body...her potential is phenomenal."

"The whole key," he says, "is to isolate what restricts the movement of a joint...stretch it and have a whole new range of motion...to accentuate her ability to mechanically work through a certain range of motion.

During a workout session this week the pair worked slowly and quietly.  At one point, he manipulated muscles and tendons in hip joints as she sat cross legged.  He also would carefully arrange the lineup of her shoulders, back, hip, knees as she assumed ballet positions.

He explains the movements now allow her to, for example, "turn out from her hip joint," whereas before her turnout was below the knee. "This affects the whole development of the her leg."

His methods says Apatow, combine biomechanics with the Russian method of ballet training (practiced by Dante in training dancers), and Scandinavian sports medicine. He began studying with Dante about a year and a half ago in his quest for precise, peak performance as he trains for international cross country ski competition.  He has worked as an advisor and consultant for amateur and professional athletes.  "There's such a need for this whole level of training," he says.

Coaching Madeux in her variations (solo dances) "is very different from four months ago, " says Dante.  Pointing out that ballet deals with space and shape, Dante says, "Now that the individual shape has been changed, the way that you put that shape into space is different.  That's where my expertise comes in. He's creating a new mold for me --- now It's what I do with the mold."  (Dante stresses that her whole staff has helped to coach Madeux.)

In addition to the biomechanical work, swimming and aerobic exercises were added for Madeux.  "She is so efficient and economical" in her ballet movements, she burns few calories, Apatow notes.

Madeux says she simply eats what anyone would eat who's on a diet, including more vegetables and fruit, "a normal diet to stay healthy."  She swims three or four times a week, an hour at a time.  Dante says, "The YMCA has been very cooperative -- they've even opened up the pool a few times for her.  She dances her variations in the water."

The type of training Apatow is providing will be "a major thing of the future," Dante says.  "We're going to somehow tie it into our whole training program.

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