Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Celine Dion has been training “as if she were a professional dancer” for her Paris residency.
The 58-year-old singer stepped out of the public eye after being diagnosed with the neurological condition stiff-person syndrome, but she returned to the spotlight last month to begin her 26-show stint at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, France.
Ahead of the concerts and throughout the residency – which runs until next May – the My Heart Will Go On hitmaker has been working with her personal performance coach, Naomi Stikeman, to ensure she’s in the best possible shape on stage.
Naomi told Britain’s HELLO! magazine: “My goal is for Céline to feel empowered inside and out, so she can enjoy her time on stage and perform at her best.
“When we first spoke several years ago, it was clear she wanted to stretch and strengthen her body and to be artistically inspired.
“I offered to train her as if she were a professional dancer, and her eyes lit up. The idea resonated with her, and that approach became part of her path to peak performance.”
The former ballet dancer likes to vary their sessions and she’s very impressed with Céline’s “incredible” progress.
She said: “Professional dancers draw on many disciplines, so the sessions are varied. They often include Pilates, yoga, classical ballet, contemporary dance, stretching techniques, and sequences I’ve developed for her over the years to support her well-being.
“I aim to create a space where she is physically challenged and also free to engage artistically. Céline doesn’t set any limitations for herself, and her progress has been incredible to witness.”
Their sessions together can be “several hours” long and Naomi thinks it helps that Céline is so quick to learn.
She said: “Depending on Céline’s schedule, our sessions might be 30 minutes, or several hours if we’re including dance improvisation and a partner.
“We always start with a slow warm-up lying on the mat, checking in with each body part, connecting with the core, making sure the spine and all joints are aligned and moving freely.
“Once standing, we progress to exercises that bear weight on two legs and then one leg, building strength and balance simultaneously. From that point onwards, the exercises vary each day and can flow between disciplines.
“Céline absorbs information at lightning speed and the variety in our work reflects her appetite to learn and grow. Music is a key component that frames our work together.”
