Simple observation of dance movement, while very useful, can lead to misconceptions, about the physical realities of dance movement, that make learning difficult. This gap between reality and understanding can be reduced by the application of biomechanical techniques such as cinematography, electromyography, and force-plate analysis. Biomechanical analysis has proved a useful tool in many fields, but its use in studying dance movement has been very limited. The few studies that have been conducted concern posture, jumping, turning, kicking, bending the knees with or without holding a barre, and standing on tip-toe. Such studies in dance have been confined to ballet, because the movements in ballet are more stylized, and therefore more easily analyzed. While biomechanical analysis helps in the understanding of dance, it has also been found that dance helps in the understanding of biomechanics. There are many more dance movements in ballet awaiting investigation, and beyond that waits the still more difficult analysis of modern and ethnic dance. (CJ)