dvances in sports science over the last several decades have revolutionized the way most athletes train. By contrast, dance training has remained relatively unchanged. For many years, the same was true for other “artistic athletes,” like gymnasts and figure skaters. But, recently, they’ve leapt far ahead of dancers when it comes to incorporating science-backed methods into their training programs.

As a mental-performance coach, Jaclyn Ellis has seen firsthand how the right mantra can transform a performer. “I work with an Irish dancer who has a lot of what I call ‘What if’ thinking. ‘What if I fall? What if the judges don’t like me? What if I collide with someone onstage?’ ” says Ellis, who […]

You’re standing in the wings, moments from entering the stage. You’ve done your planks to warm up your core, pliés to feel centered and dynamic stretches to loosen up. But your mind won’t stop racing through all the ways your performance could go wrong. Sport science strategies can get you in the right headspace. Photo […]

Summertime, and the living is…steamy. Studios can be hot. Outdoor festivals can be grueling—especially once those stage lights turn on. When the temperatures rise, movement feels harder and your body fatigues faster. What’s a dancer to do? Follow these steps to make the heat less taxing on your body so that it doesn’t keep you […]