Search results for: cross-training

Advice for Dancers

Former New York City Ballet dancer Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., is a lecturer, a psychologist in private practice, and the author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass). She has been offering advice to Dance Magazine readers since 1992. Does practicing more than one technique cause injuries? I’ve studied ballet since I was a kid, but recently added […]

Your Body Got the Blues?

How to Stay Healthy During a Long Season A rigorous season of performances or a grueling touring schedule can trigger burnout no matter how prepared the dancer. “It was a shock to my body,” remembers New York City Ballet soloist Dana Hanson, who was barely 19 when she first joined the company and leapt into […]

Ouch! Five Common Dance Injuries

With over 600 muscles, 206 bones and countless nerves, ligaments, and tendons in the body, it’s almost impossible for dancers to escape getting injured. Acute injuries, such as a sudden sprain or muscle pull, seem to happen out of the blue. One minute you’re dancing, the next minute you’ve hit the floor. Chronic problems, like […]

Advice for Dancers

This year my career has taken off. I’ve got challenging roles back-to-back, plus great guesting gigs. But instead of feeling happy, I’m becoming cranky and irritable. I think, eat, and dream of ballet. What’s wrong? —Dancer on the Go, New York, NY   Welcome to success! I’m sure you wouldn’t trade it for the back […]

Body Work in the Desert

What would you do in the middle of the desert if your car broke down and you had no road service? Body workers, like mechanics, work to balance and fine-tune the parts of the body to prevent a breakdown. Like a well-maintained, purring vehicle, your body has muscle groups that work in opposition to each […]

Advice For Dancers

Q The casting sheet went up today and my name isn’t on it! I used to dance ballerina roles before I injured my foot. My director knows that everything’s healed. I’m worried that he’s lost interest in me. Cast Away Chicago, IL A It’s time to talk! Lack of communication can foster needless self-doubt. Sit […]

Your Body Got the Blues?

A rigorous season of performances or a grueling touring schedule can trigger burnout no matter how prepared the dancer. “It was a shock to my body,” remembers New York City Ballet soloist Dana Hanson, who was barely 19 when she first joined the company and leapt into a winter season that stretched 14 weeks. She […]

Dance Medicine: Issues in Training and Treatment

Bruised toenails, sprained ankles, mental blocks—you name it, dancing is tough. In fact, techniques such as ballet, can take a bigger toll on your mind and body than professional football. Fortunately, it/’s more possible than ever to avoid injuries and reach your potential if you/’re up-to-date on the latest scientific news from around the world. […]