Summer intensives can be incredible experiences, but they also bring challenges. As a former dancer and current nutritionist for dancers, I recall a common scenario: Mornings of classes and afternoons of rehearsals increase the demands on your energy, but with little time for breaks, food becomes less of a priority than new combinations and new […]

You wander through the grocery aisles, sizing up the newest trends on the shelves. Although you’re eager to try a new energy bar, you question a strange ingredient and decide to leave it behind. Your afternoons are consumed with research as you sort through endless stories about “detox” miracles. What started as an innocent attempt […]

When the cat food started smelling good, I knew I had a problem. I’d always considered eating disorders to be extreme. Someone who never eats. Someone who weighs less than 100 pounds. Someone who gets hospitalized. My behavior didn’t fit the mental health definition of an eating disorder. I ignored it because I didn’t know […]

When it comes to what you should be eating, rumors often catch on like wildfire. Dietitian Rachel Fine, who works with dancers in New York City, shares the most misguided nutrition strategies she’s recently encountered. Rumor: Drink Bulletproof Coffee Every Morning. Give your body carbs when it wakes up. Photo by Mikesh Kaos/Unsplash Reality: The […]

Soreness is a fact of life for dancers. But rather than relying on over-the-counter pills, try managing your pain by sprinkling some turmeric on your food instead. Multiple scientific studies have proven that curcumin, the active substance in turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. How To Do It: To help your body absorb turmeric’s benefits, have […]

When dancers get injured, they often think they should eat less. The thought process goes something like, Since I’m not able to move as much as I usually do, I’m not burning enough calories to justify the portions I’m used to. But the truth is, scaling back your meals could actually be detrimental to your […]

You know that how you care for your body before curtain can impact your performance. But with so many factors to consider, it can be difficult to nail down an exact routine. How much rest is enough? How close to showtime should you eat? We asked the experts. The Night Before Tirachard Kumtanom/Stocksnap Roll out […]

Despite how many hours dancers spend in rehearsal getting performance-ready, many overlook one last crucial detail: the show-day nutrition plan. “It’s all about preparation,” says Emily C. Harrison, a former dancer who now runs Dancer Nutrition, LLC. “To have a good performance, you give your time to rehearsals and making sure your body is in […]