Healthy alignment is key for the execution of choreography. If a ballerina has poor alignment while turning, she will not turn as fast and may fall off balance.
Injuries can result from dancing without the awareness of appropriate body alignment. According to Daniel Nagrin, in his book "How to Dance Forever," dancing without proper alignment can lead to a shortened dance career or pain and limited mobility as you age.
Classes of almost every style of dance are available on DVD, but these should be used as a supplement to formal class. A qualified dance teacher will help you understand proper dance alignment, which will help you get the most from your independent study.
Many somatic therapies, such as yoga, Pilates and Gyrotonic, can help improve dance alignment.
According to Eric Franklin, creator of the Franklin Method, correct body alignment improves the posture, muscle tone and length of performing career of dancers.