One of my favorite subjects to discuss with dancers is turnout. As a dancer, I have often heard “turnout from your hips!”, but it wasn’t until I became a physical therapist and dance science researcher that I learned there is…
The most gnarly marley burn I’ve had (so far) was in 2018 during tech week while at USF. I was in rehearsal for Alex Ketley‘s Ballast (Particulate Rage, Love & Recovery). In the choreography, there was a floor work section that I…
In case you missed it, the poll for this week’s Journal Club article was a three-way tie! The winning article is Comparing Lumbar Lordosis in Functional Dance Positions in Collegiate Dancers With and Without Low Back Pain by Skallerud et…
This week’s poll chose Sleep, Dance Exposure Hours, and Injury Risk in Collegiate Dancers as the Journal Club article of the week! This paper by Fauntroy et al. studies if there’s a connection between a collegiate dancer’s sleep patterns, the…
My mom told me I could dance as much as I wanted as long as I got an advanced degree in the medical field. That’s an offer I couldn’t refuse. I danced for twenty years before it was time to…
Given that it’s *spooky season*, this month I want to discuss *dead* pointe shoes. It’s no secret that pointe shoes can be bloody expensive, ranging from $50-$125 per pair. Like all shoes, pointe shoes have a lifespan. In dance there…
Studying dance taught me how to quickly notice when my body “felt off”. However, there were times I struggled to identify the pain’s severity and set a boundary on when I should seek medical attention. I quickly assumed my body…
Having high arches is seen as an asset in many dance styles. As a dancer with normal arches (boring!), I followed the advice of every “improve your feet with __!” article I could find: exercises, “massaging” the soles of my…
Hi all! For those who don’t know me, my name is Lily. I am a dance artist and a third year doctor of physical therapy student at the University of Miami. Following graduation in May 2023 I aspire to enter…