Sore muscles and stiff joints are par for the course when you’re a dancer. But sometimes persistent (and painful) pinches appear—and stick around. Never pain is a common occurrence, but it requires more work than a quick rollout and dose of over-the-counter pain reliever. We broke down a few of the most prevalent types and […]
Back to school means back to dance full-time. But while you might be excited to spend every evening in the studio, your body likely isn’t—and it’ll let you know with some killer soreness the next morning. When should you push through the achiness and when should you take it easy? Dance Spirit looked to Natalie […]
Podiatrist Thomas Novella remembers one of his first interactions with dancer feet. Fresh out of podiatry school, he saw a patient from The Joffrey Ballet and assumed he knew the clear way to help her out. “I thought I was doing her a favor by trimming her calluses off, just like I’d been trained to […]
Dancers are rightfully proud of the battle wounds on their feet! But not all bad-looking things are good. Case in point: ingrown toenails, which can be debilitating for dancers. DS spoke with podiatrist Dr. Bryan Hersh, DPM, of the Center for Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, IL, about this all-too-common condition. What are ingrown toenails? An […]
The worst has happened: You landed a jump and felt an oh-so-terrifying pop in your ankle. As your friend rushes over with an ice pack, your entire dance career flashes before your eyes. All you really want to know is how bad it is—and how long you’ll have to stay off your toes. Dancers endure […]
Speak up about any pain you might be feeling and get it checked by a professional. Photo by Nanette Grebe/Thinkstock Do you ever wonder if you are getting enough calcium? What about enough sleep? Did you know it’s possible overstretch your legs to the point of injury? Those were just a few of the topics […]
Sara Mearns and Chase Finlay in Polyphonia Photo by Paul Kolnik There’s a saying for dancers: Our bodies are our instruments. But what’s one thing dancers do that musicians rarely do? We beat up our instruments. We sometimes forget—or even neglect—the daily maintenance necessary for a long and healthy career. But we only get one […]
School at Steps director Kate Thomas with NYCB principal dancer Sara Mearns (courtesy The School at Steps) Taking time off to recover from a stress fracture or strain can be unbearable for a dancer. That’s why it’s so important to do everything you can to prevent that dreaded injury. On Sunday, The School at Steps […]