Back in 2011, Yale University’s dean of science was thinking about refreshing the program’s offerings for non-majors when he happened upon a Pilobolus performance. A light bulb went off: Dance is full of physics. That realization led to what has become an eight-year collaboration between particle physicist Sarah Demers and former New York City Ballet […]

As an audience cheers, three teenage girls cross the stage in a line, to the high-energy beat of The Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down.” They’re dressed in head-to-toe black, but each of their shirts is decorated with bright bulbs, flashing and blinking in various colors as they move. The performance is a product of STEM […]

File this under news that sounds too good to be true: A study published in last month’s International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance found that one little nutrient—vitamin D—could improve dancers’ strength and decrease their risk of injury. Known as “the sunshine vitamin” because of our body’s ability to produce it when exposed to […]

It’s the end of a long season: Your body is exhausted, you’re emotionally drained from back-to-back performances and you’re feeling ready for some serious time on the couch. But as soon as you start to relax, the doubts creep in. What will happen to my physique if I’m not in class? Will I lose muscle, […]

Have two or more months off from dance this summer? With a little planning, your body can reap the full benefits of your layoff—and transition back into the studio with ease. Weeks one and two: Use the first couple of weeks off to recharge your body. Photo by Leio McLaren/Unsplash Truly rest. Indulge in long […]

Sore arches may be one of the peskiest pain spots dancers deal with. This small area on the bottom of your feet may seem minor, but it actually does a lot of work: Your arches are what allow your feet to support the weight of your entire body. While any sharp, unbearable pain should always […]

Great dance educators with smart, scientific teaching practices are invaluable to the dance field. How else could we create healthy, beautiful dancers? The International Association of Dance Medicine and Science is looking to honor someone who’s made a substantial impact through teaching with its annual Dance Educators Award—and the committee is asking for nominations. The […]

In the studio, dancers obsess over proper form to mitigate the risk of injury. In the rest of our lives, however, we rarely examine our alignment in the same way. But our downtime habits can directly impact our bodies and, if left unchecked, could cause problems over time. A few simple adjustments might save you […]