DanceWell Podcast

“Our life expectancy from the 20s to the current day increased by over 50 years for three reasons: public health, toilets and vaccines.” - Dr. Vincent Racaniello Ph. D The subject of vaccination can be a touchy one to say the least. Join us as Columbia Professor and virologist, Dr. Vincent Racaniello, teaches us about how vaccines work, discusses some common fallacies about vaccination, and gives...

Gayanne Grossman PT, BFA, MEd, FIADMS is a dancer, a dance medicine expert, and a dance educator, all in quite equal parts, which uniquely positions her to reflect on the multifaceted field of dance science--its research and its application--with keen judgement and critical thought. In Episode 51: Dance with the body that you have--Bringing kinesiology into the studio, we discuss the variability o...

Emergencies happen whether or not you’re ready for them. They happen in otherwise safe situations to healthy individuals. They happen both on- and off-stage and can range from heat stroke to broken bones to cardiac arrest. Are you ready to respond to emergencies in your space? Tune in to listen to Lauren McIntyre, ATC, clinical specialist and emergency management liaison at NYU Langone’s Harkness...

We end DanceWell's second season by chatting with two former ballerinas turned mental health practitioners: Dr. Miriam Rowan, PsyD and Katherine (Kate) Wilson, LICSW. These women discuss identity development in the young pre-professional ballet dancer, the importance of maintaining a diversity of relationships, finding a voice and unique identity, and creating spaces to open up and self-express. G...

DanceWell has a few projects in the making! Want to participate in our IRB approved research on dancer well-being? Click here: https://hofstra.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eDNl3AGhnHDjUKp. Do you love DanceWell as much as well do? Show your support by contributing to our 3rd season. Click here to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dancewell-season-three-fundraiser?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=c...

Posture is an interesting topic that is addressed in wide-spanning areas from etiquette, to aesthetics, to science. A dancer’s posture is often revered, but it can also present some complicated inefficiencies and risks. In Episode 48: Posture of Choice, Adele Nickel, MFA, introduces the Alexander Technique and illuminates the unique phenomenon of a dancer's posture. You can follow Adele on Instagr...

On this episode, Leigh Schanfein, M.S. will help us to understand balance. We'll start by discussing the different components of balance and the systems that contribute to helping us maintain an upright position and conclude by talking about how balance pertains to dancers in specific. Visit Leigh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13736282 Visit DanceWell Podcast's GoFundMe camp...

Episode 46: Ins and Outs of the Pelvic Floor, provides detailed information about this essential and oft-overlooked region of a dancer's anatomy. Pelvic floor rehabilitation specialist and dance expert, Brooke Winder, DPT, PT, OCS, explains the anatomy of the region, what can go wrong, how dysfunction is experienced, how dance challenges this area, how healthy nutrition interacts with pelvic funct...

On our final episode of this month's recovering from injury series, we showcase two more unique perspectives. Join us as Marissa speaks to ballet dancers and co-hosts of Conversations on Dance Podcast, Michael Sean Breeden and Rebecca King Ferraro, about the challenges they faced when healing from injury. Visit Michael Sean Breeden and Rebecca King Ferraro on Conversations on Dance Podcast by visi...

On this episode of DanceWell Podcast, educator, creator, mover, and motivator, Hope Boykin, talks about her road to recovery after a recent ankle injury. Photo credit: Hope Boykin - Self Portrait Get in touch with Hope at: www.hopeboykindance.com or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HopeBoykinDance/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/hbdance) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hbdance/). Visi...

We cannot talk about recovering from an injury in full without addressing the importance of maintaining good mental health or discussing some of the psychological hurdles that appear during this process. A negative outlook, increased stress and decreased motivation can slow recovery. Feelings of isolation and depression can have the same effect. That’s why we thought it was imperative to have a me...

I'm injured...now what? Join us on this episode of DanceWell Podcast as physical therapist Katrina Lee, DPT, OCS and New York City Ballet soloist, Sara Adams, discuss the physiological process of recovering from an injury including stages of healing, what you can expect during the rehabilitation process, how to make the most of your rehab, and returning to dance. Photo by Danica Paulos @lens_of_th...

Dancer/actor/singer Mikey Winslow was born with hip dysplasia on his left side. After years of dancing with mounting pain, Mikey made the decision to have a total hip replacement. Now, a little more than a year later, he is back dancing on Broadway! Listen to Mikey's story about his injury and recovery including how and why he decided to go through with surgery, his rehabilitation process, and his...

In Episode 40: Performance Enhancement, professional ballet dancer, fitness expert, and dance performance coach, Tanya Trombly, explains how her Bulletproof Ballerina method helps elite performers meet their full potential. We discuss different components that contribute to peak performance, how to optimize your physical training, current trends in dance conditioning, burnout, and much more. We ev...

Every performer learns the skills of their craft, but not every performer brings their own flair to their skills. What is it that makes you uniquely you? Join us on Episode 39: Unleashing Your Inner Weirdo to hear what broadway veteran and life coach, Kyle Post, has to say about the interplay between going beyond the technique and finding yourself, changing your relationship to fear, and reaching...

In many dance forms, physical contact is considered an essential part of the experience and consent to touch is often assumed rather than explicitly given. However, consent is nuanced and without an open dialogue, dancers risk getting involved in more than feels comfortable or safe. But unfortunately, an open dialogue often isn’t part of dance classes, rehearsals, or auditions. While teaching a pa...

Tendon research has come a long way in the past decade. There is a lot we know and plenty still to learn. Join us on this episode as Paul Ochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, LMT discusses current concepts in tendon pathology and how it relates to dancers. Get in touch with Paul on Instagram at @f2pt or via his website at www.f2pt.com. Photo by Danica Paulos @lens_of_the_heart Visit DanceWell Podcast's GoFu...

As Dr. Morray says, it’s not a matter of if, but rather when a studio, school, or company will face a dancer in crisis so it's essential to have a plan for how to deal with this sensitive issue. Learn what to say (and not say) and which professionals should be in your contact list to help support a healthy dance environment. To contact Dr. Elisabeth Morray, email her at: morray@gmail.com Visit Dan...

Though she was studying exercise science and knew the importance of rest and recuperation, dancer and yoga teacher, Leslie Ann Ellingburg, was unable to take her own advice. Intellectually, she knew the risks associated with overtraining, but disordered thinking led her to compulsive exercise. Hear her experience and how she manages today. Learn more about Leslie at: http://leslieannellingburg.com...

It seems like everywhere we turn these days, there's information about what we should and shouldn't eat, what's suddenly healthy, or what foods we should never eat. Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM, who advises dancers at The School of American Ballet and The Juilliard School, provides insights on how to navigate all the complicated messages we continuously encounter about food and health. Learn more...

While they may not meet the diagnosis of an eating disorder, many dancers engage in thoughts and behaviors surrounding food and body image that are disordered. Clinical Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of To The Pointe Nutrition, Rachel Fine, MS, RDN, CDN, CSSD believes that these "grey area" issues are on the rise. She explains why that might be and why it's a problem. She also enlight...

Dr. Elisabeth Morray, psychologist and eating disorder specialist, kicks off our conversations by explaining all the basics. What are eating disorders? Who is vulnerable to developing them? How are eating disorders treated?  What do we need look for to help keep dancers healthy? How can someone get help? We'll discuss all of this and more. Visit DanceWelll Podcast’s GoFundMe campaign by following...

Ellen G. Waller, MSc, NASM-CPT, has carved a niche for herself training Irish Dancers. In episode 31 Ellen discusses the technical elements of Irish dancing that set it apart from other forms of Western dance, the muscular imbalances she witnesses as a cross-training coach, and the cross-training principles she employs with her dancers. Get in touch with Ellen by emailing her at: info@targettraini...

Doctors of Osteopathy (DO’s) are fully licensed physicians who favor preventative medicine and minimally invasive treatments. Additionally, all DO’s are taught how to treat ailments with their hands. In Episode 30: Hands on Medicine, Dr. Stasia Blyskal, DO, explains how she uses her hands to help dancers and why sometimes, less is more. Learn more about Dr. Blyskal at https://www.stasiablyskaldo.c...

Concussions in dance do happen and are not to be taken lightly. Join us as athletic trainer Lauren McIntyre ATC discusses causes of concussions in dance, symptoms, what to do if you suspect you’ve sustained a concussion, and rehabilitation and management. Lauren McIntyre ATC is a clinical specialist and emergency management liaison at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Langone. Learn more a...