Performance Health Advisor & Integrated Programming
In the academic and institutional dance space, advancing health and wellness goes beyond injury treatment. It requires systems that integrate education, application, and accountability.
In my personal academic work and alongside DANCE|PREHAB, I have had the opportunity to design, train, pilot, and execute dance health initiatives with integration and dance health longevity for pre-professionals in mind.
Integrated experiences that provide dancers with actionable information while also including community members and physical therapy students in the process.
American Ballet Theatre William J Gillespie School
Costa Mesa, CA
Developed and led a comprehensive health screening program for ballet students to serve as an entry point for growth and maturation conversations, education on fundamental movement patterns with respect to growth/maturation and simultaneous rigorous dance performance training, and collaboration with administration and faculty. long-term wellness.
Key components included:
Screening design & implementation that honors dancers’ training with respect to growth and development.
Training volunteer physical therapy students to administer tests and measures reliably.
Organizing and delivering results in clear formats for students, administrators, and parents.
Ongoing collaboration with strength and conditioning educators to ensure adherence and progress.
Seasonal health lectures and educational sessions to reinforce awareness and long-term dancer wellness.
Chapman University (Department of Physical Therapy & Department of Dance)
Orange, CA
Redesigned the community clinic component of Chapman University’s service-learning course into a collaborative program between the Department of Dance and the Department of Physical Therapy. This experience provides PT students with hands-on experience working with a unique population to inform their future practice, while also providing dance students actionable education and training tailored to the specific demands of upcoming performances. Testing protocols and training programs derived from 1) “Steps in the Street” by Martha Graham and 2) technique considerations of new work by Complexions’ Dwight Rhoden.
Key components included:
Redesigned community clinic learning experience to serve both PT and dance students.
Facilitated collaboration between Dance and PT departments to integrate performance health into curriculum.
Consultation with Martha Graham company stager to align experience, and student training goals with choreographic and aesthetic demands.
For physical therapy students:
Focus for PT students: expanding clinical horizons by working with dancers as a unique population.
Introduction of a variety of testing techniques to PT students, leveraging available technology and wearables, with direct application. For dance students:
For dance students:
Delivery of education and ongoing exercise program for performance preparation and injury risk reduction.
Focus for dancers: understanding the demands of performance with a follow-up group training session to emphasize context of testing.
Goal: improve dancers’ performance parameters prior to setting the piece, minimizing injury risk and enhancing physical performance baselines.
