The Dance Up!

Carbs have been demonized in dance for decades, and it’s costing dancers energy, recovery, and longevity. Registered sports dietitian and dance nutrition specialist Lisa Rivera explains why fueling is not just about “eating more” - it’s about giving your body the right energy at the right time so you can perform, recover, and stay healthy. Host Dr. James D. Walters and co-host Danielle Lydia Sheat...

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Jeanne Fornarola as they discuss how ballet shapes a life, a career, and a body in ways most people never see. From the strict, formative world of Mercyhurst to decades of teaching, injury recovery, and the evolution of dance education, they unpack what dancers actually need to thrive: bett...

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Tripp Hansen as they discuss their personal stories on teaching and learning, Tripps Broadway and Acupuncturist journey, and how we hope to integrate the energetic, mind body connection, in how we carry ourselves in the world. Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr....

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Jordan Brownlee as they discuss the demands and excitement of puppetry. The toll it takes on the body and the sheer love of the art form. Hear how Jordan began his performance career and how the art of puppetry is inherently linked to acting. Listen to Jordan shares the differences of puppe...

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Erica Hornthal as they discuss the ins and outs of Dance Movement Therapy and the various challenges towards licensure. Listen how they unpack the removal of recess and dance in schools and how bringing back these simple yet crucial activities are vital to a child's development especial...

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guests Alexandra Bradshaw-Yerby & Adele Nickel. In this episode we discuss their individual and collective experiences in dance in addition to how they got into writing about dance. Hear some of their takeaways from their most recent co-authored article , "Safety, Social Connection, and Learning:...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather as they wrap up their 3 year of podcasting and creating content to help bridge the gap between health care and dance for better communication and care. The Dance Up! has been focused on education strategies that include building their compassion and understanding. James and Danielle want to challenge the oversimplifi...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Taylor Goldberg - The Hyper-mobile Chiropractor. Listen as we discuss the various ways in which hyper-mobility manifests in dancers and how we can do better as a community to avoid iatrogenic diagnoses and nocebic language. We might all be trying to do the right thing, but in actuality we may be harming th...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guests William Gentes and Susannah Dwyer Co-Owners of Classical Ballet of Western NY. Listen as we discuss William and Susannah's entry into the dance world and how their love of teaching grew to create both a company and training program for young dancers. Their pedagogy is steeped in respecting each other, the...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Andrea Daszkiewicz President of the Board for Penfield Players, actor and director in Rochester NY 's community theater scene. Listen as we discuss how our passions can allow us to explore so much inside of the art world and how balancing administration and artistic works are challenging and sometimes...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Rose Pasquerello Beauchamp dance artist, improviser, educator, filmmaker, and activist. Listen as we discuss Dance in a Research One Medical Institution and the ways in which somatic approaches can be embodied not only by dance majors but students pursuing medical careers as well. Consider how dance can ex...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Lindsay Hawkins artist, educator, and scholar based in St. Louis. Hear about Lindsay's dance history and the mentors who inspired her to teach with a focus on injury prevention and care. Listen to her relationship with health care practitioners from her time at MADCO Dance Company, to her miscarriages, and...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Casey Lee Thorne artist, educator, and scholar based in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as Artistic Director of Inside Out Contemporary Ballet. Listen as they discuss Casey's journey in dance and becoming a new mom. From the logistical and practical to viewing motherhood and relationships as an artistic...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Cliff Beach, Musician, Author, Podcaster, and all round artist as they discuss seeing ourselves in the art we make and the opportunities we take. Hear how learning can be a catalyst for artistic growth and freedom. Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expres...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Nikki Acierno, Dance Physical Therapist as they discuss the stigmas surrounding majoring in dance, facing decisions to choose dance or physical therapy, and learning that both can be an option. We wrap with self-analysisfor a meaningful way to discover what can work for you! Musical contributions by Alexan...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Heather Booysen and learn about Heather's dance career and her dance photography Movement in Motion. Come to understand what to look for in a dance specific photoshoot and photographer as well as how Heather works diligently to provide safe and effective shoots with dancers. Musical contributions by Alexan...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest David T. Loudermilk as they discuss the versatile relationships dance can create and discover just one of the many paths taken to build a career in this thing called the Performing Arts. Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely r...

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather along with second time guest Tayla Gottesman and her life partner Trey Luciano as they discuss their time together at New York State Ballet, moving to Florida, and adjusting their careers as they grow together as a couple and individuals. Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot....

Join Dr. James D Walters and Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather as they wrap Season 2 of The Dance Up! Hear what themes have developed over the last two years and what research James and Danielle are interested in as they move the dialogue forward. Learn about the concept of Injury Risk Reduction and hear our favorite memories of the season! A special thanks to all our guests for...

Join Dr. James D Walters, Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Shelly Isler Studio Owner, Instructor, Choreographer, and Director as we dive into opening a studio from the ground up. Being a "yes girl" and the many ways that our training prepares us - or does not - for the field. We discuss how a local dance studio developed a conditioning program, the evolution of training, a...

Join Dr. James D Walters, Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Magda Kaczmarska dance artist, researcher, creative aging advocate, Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, and the Founding Director of DanceStream Projects as we dive into dance, creative aging and brain health. Listen to Magda's beginnings in both dance and science and her personal journey through inj...

Join Dr. James D Walters, Assistant Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Alec Barbour Theater Actor, Fight Director and Intimacy Director, and Certified Stage combat Teacher as we dive into the excitement of stage combat and the necessity for intimacy coordination. Listen to how these too tools can become necessary elements for physical and mental health but also how they can become nec...

Join Dr. James D Walters, Assistant Professor Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Bits Shannon MS RN PMHNP-BC as we dive into mental health and the performing arts whether that be from the elite or amateur level. We discuss our collective interest in what it means to be a performer and effective methods to treat the whole person, including relationship building, menu of options, and being clear about pot...

Join Dr. James D Walters, Assistant Professor Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Kaley Jensen as they dive into discussions about Peter's Law, Training for Artistry not just technique, and overcoming injury with strength, mobility, and stability. Learn about Kaley's Mindset to Move and consider our beliefs that there is strength in collaboration through bridging gaps between the healthcare and dance ind...

Join Dr. James D Walters, Assistant Professor Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Elena Carter with American Midwest Ballet, as they discuss what might be better: a Professional Training Program or a University Dance Degree. Be encouraged by Elena’s early start with competitive Hula dancing and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Hear how the pandemic made Elena a more resilient dancer and listen as we consider wa...