I often read your responses to girls who feel they need to lose weight. My problem is that I need to gain it! I’ve always been skinny, no matter how much I eat. I have pasta, peanut butter, chicken, fish, and ice cream, not to mention healthy stuff like cereal, fruits, and vegetables. Nothing works; […]
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 […]
The other day I jammed my big toe into the floor doing quick ronds de jambe à terre. Strangely, this happened on both sides of the barre, causing a sharp pain as each big toe bent backwards. Did this occur from switching to softer split-sole canvas slippers? Or is it the result of the bunions […]
I’m at the advanced level in my dance school and want very much to be a professional dancer. I know I need to work hard to get a job in a dance company. How do I become special? I don’t want to be a mediocre dancer. —Determined, Cleveland, OH Self-discipline, talent, good training and […]
Many dancers in our company are on overdrive. They work morning to night until they get injured. Others barely perform, then dance a great role, get injured, and are out for months. How can I avoid the same trap? I’m not sure how to do it other than going to the gym and taking class. […]
What can I do to stop muscle cramps? Sometimes they hit me in the middle of the night and hurt for days. Or they happen when I’m dancing or working in class. Is this normal? Cramped NYC You’re not alone. Nearly every dancer has had muscle spasms wake them out of a deep sleep or […]
Do you have a sprained ankle that won’t heal? It’s not that rare. Studies have shown that 10 to 30 percent of sprains will have symptoms later. So what is a sprained ankle anyway? It’s the most common injury in all of sports and dancing. Dancing pushes your body to its limit. If you roll […]
Help! Ever since I left home to start my dance BFA program, I’ve felt non-stop stress. I think I hide it pretty well during the day, but at night I often get an urge to eat a giant bag of M &Ms. I’ve always been a healthy eater and I hate gaining weight—what should I […]