Category: Dance Health
When doing more means moving less
The need to get things done and to cross off the proverbial to-do list is strong in so many of us. As dancers, especially, the need for perfection and excellence often goes hand in hand with those tasks, which can make it harder to accomplish them on time or put added anxiety and stress around…
Read MoreHarnessing the power of movement for resilience and well-being
These days, you may find it harder to stay present, especially when being in the moment reminds us that things are not what they used to be. The inability to be present can lead to a decrease in body awareness, which has a huge impact on our movement overall. As we continue to live in…
Read More
‘Embrace What Makes You UNIQUE’ in 2021
What makes you unique? Is it a special talent of yours? Your look? Your personality? “The world is so judgmental, and we all feel a pressure to fit into a mold,” shares Andrij “AJ” Deneka. “When you can showcase your individuality, it helps you stand out among others. It’s refreshing.” Deneka is the founder of Embrace…
Read More
Forget fad diets: here are 5 dietary strategies that actually work
Too much stress has come from the misinformation out there about how to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. This information deluge on diet tricks is heightened in the dance world. As a dietitian for dancers for the past 11 years, and a former professional dancer myself, I’ve seen the real-life damage that these…
Read MoreA Pilates sequence for cross-training and re-centering in stressful times
Pilates is about centering, literally and figuratively — building core strength and finding one’s metaphorical center, one’s sense of inner strength and calm. The practice incorporates timing, shape and breath in reaching toward achieving goals in both areas — things that dancers are accustomed to working with and refining. Core strength (which we know goes…
Read More
Preparing your home studio for safe dance
Welcome to dancing at home — with its daily distractions, endless child supervision, traffic, noise, limited space and likely no ballet barre or mirror. You are probably also confronted with carpet, hardwood on cement or tile on which to dance. Zooming your dance class can be a dangerous proposition. The inappropriate floors available in your home, apartment,…
Read MoreMoving through Uncertainty
Many would agree that these are uncertain times….uncharted for most of us. We don’t know what the future holds, let alone tomorrow. The landscape of performing arts and theater across the globe has changed, and there is no way of knowing what it will look like in the coming year. With dance studios and schools opening back up,…
Read MoreHow eating more, not less, leads to a healthy dancer weight
Dancers can feel like their weight is a tricky balance between staying toned but also having tremendous energy and strength. Being too thin can increase injury risk, decrease energy and power performance. Do dancers need to diet? My response as a former professional dancer myself and as a dietitian who has worked with some of the best dancers…
Read More
AileyDance for Active Seniors: Dance from and back to the people
“Dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people,” Alvin Ailey said. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, a key part (but not all of) his legacy, works by this ethos. “Dance is for everybody,” asserts Cathryn Williams, director of Arts in Education and Community Programs at Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. Amongst many other programs offering…
Read MorePower and privilege: A body’s response
While the word “privilege” itself has been the topic of many discussions recently, the principle is not novel. I would like to share a hard lesson I learned a few weeks ago with my Dance Informa community. I have run a group on Facebook for over 12 years now — a group dedicated to advocating for…
Read More