Dealing with a dance injury? Dr. Brian Goonan, a Houston-based psychologist who works with dancers, gives advice on refocusing your emotions when you’re on the road to recovery. Reflection over criticism It’s normal for dancers to slip into a spiral of “shoulda-woulda-coulda” after an injury. “You don’t want it to happen again, so you’re trying […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown most of our lives into chaos—classes, performances and auditions are all on hold. This upending of a dancer’s jam-packed schedule not only has the potential to wreak havoc on your physical health, but on your mental health, too. “Most professional dancers are so used to being regimented,” explains Brian Goonan, […]

Simone Messmer was 19 the first time she used cocaine. She was at another company’s gala when someone pulled out a bag of the white powder. There, at the coat check counter, party guests took turns snorting the drug. “I was hesitant, but at the time I was willing to try anything once,” she says. […]