Something that many people do not understand is that performing artists do not always have the same luxuries as a general office worker when it comes to healthcare coverage. While some may argue that fine arts are a needed part of society, the public is typically not aware of how little support these artists get […]
Getting en Pointe: For the Progressing Dancer
The art of dancing en pointe is something that many little girls in ballet class work towards. It is a typical sign that you are now one of the “big girls.” However, the excitement of getting to this milestone can sometimes cause premature entry into the world of pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are a much […]
Proper Foot Care for Dancers
It is commonly known that dancers do not have the nicest feet to look at. Despite their rough appearance, dancers do generally work quite hard to care for their feet. The most minor of foot issues could really deter their training or performance schedule, so proper maintenance is paramount. Some major tips include (1) loving […]
A Ballet Class en Flat in Pointe Shoes
Most people can only imagine how difficult a ballet class is. Then they start to think of ballerinas that they see on the main stage dancing on the tips of their toes in pointe shoes. They start to imagine what type of loopholes these people could have possibly found in Newton’s laws of physics to […]
The Anatomy of First Position in Ballet
In ballet, first position is so much more than having your toes pointed outward. It has been said that dancing ballet is like being a duckling. A duckling glides effortlessly across a body of water, but what we don’t see is the constant work happening below the surface. If it looked hard to pull off […]
Are You a “Motor Moron?”
Do you have one of those friends that is always getting hurt for no particular reason? You know – that friend that always manages to trip over their own feet or stumble into inanimate objects. This is also the same friend that manages to cut themselves, regularly, when trying to cook or slams their fingers […]
Floor Barre Practice for Dancers
Efforts to prevent injury for dancers are far and wide. There are many techniques utilized. The major thing done, as with most athletes, is cross training. Dancers don’t necessarily go into the gym to run miles, stack up heavy weights or bust out the agility ladder, although some do – dependent on their style of […]
Comprehensive Guide for Dancers Staying in Shape During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As I am writing to you, it is May 2020 in the Washington, D.C. area. There is a stay at home order for most states, and people have been encouraged to only go to public spaces for essential things such as groceries or medications. People are struggling in so many ways with social distancing. People […]
Athletes: Land Quietly Like a Ballet Dancer
Working in an outpatient orthopaedic setting, a common goal for many of our patients is returning to sports. For many, that means being able to run, jump and change direction quickly. Because of my personal background in dance, my patients probably get very annoyed with me when I begin working on plyometric activities with them, […]
What Is the Topple Test for Dancers?
In rehabilitation there are many clinical tests that can help determine the type of injury a person may have. In dance, there are functional tests that help show readiness for some activities. The test that is being discussed today is the topple test. The topple test sees if a dancer can complete a clean single […]
BOSU Training for Dancers
Dancers’ requirements vary so much. It is asked of them to be strong, agile, flexible, and balanced all while maintaining some level of artistry and making things look easy. Dancers train in a similar way as other conventional athletes to attain the previously mentioned goals. It may just not look the same. Similar tools are […]
Using Your Natural Turnout: A Cry for Dance Injury Prevention
In the dance community, particularly the ballet community, turnout is such a coveted talent. It becomes ingrained from a very early age that this perfectly externally rotated foot position is necessary to be considered a good dancer or one that is better than the other dancers. The problem is that turnout is not just a […]
Staying Injury Free in Social Dance
When people think of dance injuries, the mind often automatically goes to a setting of a ballet barre or stage show. Sometimes dance injuries happen in the social dance arena as well. For the purposes of this article, the term social dance will be defined as a dance style that requires at least 2 people […]
Dealing with Dancer’s Hip: Snapping Hip Syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by a popping or snapping sound when you bend, straighten, or rotate your hip. This is not a specific functional diagnosis, but is more of a descriptor. This dysfunction is more medically known as coxa saltans (Latin for dancer’s hip). It is less formally but more […]
The Dancer’s Warm Up: You’ve Been Doing It Wrong For So Long
Every time I walk into dance facilities, I see the same thing, and as a physical therapist, it makes me cringe. I see dance students waiting for their classes to start by surrounding their respective studios in splits or some variation of a split. Yes, flexibility in dance is so very important, but this bad […]