DanceWell Podcast is dedicated to exploring 360-degrees of health and wellness for dancers. We believe that health and wellness isn’t just about physical well-being, but encompasses the whole self. From this belief, we bring you bi-monthly episodes in which we talk with all sorts of practitioners including: dietitians, body-workers, medical doctors, athletic trainers, physical therapists, conditioning experts, psychologists and more. We hope these conversations bring you enhanced understanding of health and wellness to support fulfilling experiences in dance!
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Tour life is intense, exhausting, and strangely predictable—but coming home can be even harder. In this episode, licensed mental health counselor and former touring vocalist Daniel Rinaldi joins DanceWell to unpack why the “landing” after tour can feel so destabilizing. We talk about controlled chaos, nervous system overload, identity shifts, and what happens when the structure, adrenaline, and tour family suddenly disappear. Whether you’re a performer, crew member, or creative professional, thi...
Aki Kawasaki, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Houston Ballet Academy speaks to Ellie about his journey helping dancers understand the value of cross-training, daily maintenance routines, a balanced lifestyle, and wellness. Host: Ellie Kusner Co-Hosts: Ellie Kusner and Marissa Schaeffer Website: www.dancewellpodcast.co Email: DanceWellPodcast@gmail.com Introduction Soundscape: Brendan Berry and Dylan Ezzie Visual Image: Katie Dean
Workers’ compensation is a vital resource for performers, providing access to the care they need when injured on the job. Yet, the system can be difficult to fully understand and navigate. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Grierson walks us through the essentials of workers’ compensation and offers guidance on how performers can better access and utilize this important benefit. A must-listen for anyone in the performing arts community. Host: Marissa Schaeffer Co-Hosts: Ellie Kusner and Marissa Schaef...
Dancers are more likely to have scoliosis than the general population, and while dance can be supportive to an asymmetrical spine, is can also be a frustrating endeavor for a dancer whose spine is different from the norm. In Episode 98, Ellie speaks to Suzanne Koucheravy, a pilates teacher who has devoted her work to supporting dancers with scoliosis through comprehensive, conscientious, educational, and empowering sessions. Together they touch on the basics of scoliosis, how Suzanne understands...
On this episode of DanceWell Podcast, co-host Marissa Schaeffer speaks with dance and pelvic floor physical therapist Ami Kirollos, PT, DPT, CSCS. Ami unpacks how issues in the pelvic floor can present as hip or back pain, and offers tools for clinicians and patients to recognize red flags, especially in high-performing athletes and dancers. Whether you're a movement professional or simply pelvic floor curious, this episode offers insight, clarity and practical guidance. Link to the Cozean Pelvi...
In this episode, we speak with interfaith minister, Reverend Nafisa Sharriff, about spirituality. What is spirituality, how does it look or feel, and why does it matter? Plus, we touch on how spirituality interacts with the life experiences of a dancer. This thoughtful and warm interview is DanceWell's first exploring spirituality as a facet of holistic dancer wellness. To learn more about Reverend Nafisa Sharriff visit: www.ethoh.org Follow her on Instagram: @enteringtheholyofholies Or on Faceb...
Traveling the world is a joy, but dancing on a cruise ship also brings a unique set of challenges from unfamiliar sleep situations, to limited food choices, to mechanical stages, not to mention that the theater itself is in continuous motion!! On Episode 95: Dancing at Sea, Yenwen Kuo interviews physiotherapist (and former performer) Alexander McKinven. These experienced cruise ship workers discuss the culture, injury risks, and health concerns associated with ship life. McKinven offers several ...
Following the COVID-19 shutdown, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater initiated a comprehensive cross-training program to prepare dancers for their return. This episode features the core team, including Matthew Rushing and Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi, alongside trainers Andrew Schaefer and Antoine Simmons, as they detail the program's evolution, its impact on dancer well-being and performance, and the logistical challenges of integrating intensive conditioning into a busy season. The discussion highlights the critical role of time, communication, and leadership in fostering a culture of holistic athlete development within a dance company.
Join our first DanceWell Podcast guest host, Gregory Youdan, MA, MS, as he interviews returning guest, Elizabeth (Betsy) Coker, EdD! These two dance scientists will discuss the necessity of measurement in dance and go on to discuss the utility of portable tech, balance, their research and more. Learn more about Betsy Coker at: www.betsycoker.com. Learn more about Gregory Youdan at: http://www.gregoryyoudan.com/ Host: Gregory Youdan Co-Hosts: Ellie Kusner and Marissa Schaeffer Website: www.dancew...
During the pandemic, Registered Dietitian Kristin Koskinen has found that many dancers are interested in learning how they can help combat some of the stress and anxiety in our current world climate with the foods or eating behaviors they choose. In this episode, Kristin explains some of the ways that food influences our mood, and how these affects may vary depending on an individual’s preferences, genetics, or past experiences. We caution again obsessive thinking surrounding food and mood, and ...
National Dance Institute (NDI) was founded in 1976 by former NYCB principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise with the mission to "use dance as a catalyst to engage children and motivate them toward excellence" (http://nationaldance.org/NDI_at_a_Glance.pdf). Nearly 50 years later, NDI serves thousands of children each week, hosts teacher trainings and workshops both nationally and internationally to further this mission. In this episode of DanceWell Podcast, Emily Meisner, Director of NDI Collaborative f...
Resilience is a bit of a buzz word in the popular media, but what does it really mean, how can we acquire it, and why do dancers need it? On Episode 90: Resilience, Michelle Dwarka answers these questions and many others. We discuss the existing literature and ideas for future research. Email Michelle at: mi.dwarika@gmail.com Follow her on Instagram: @sleekingprima Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-schachtler-dwarika-92527723 Host: Ellie Kusner Co-Hosts: Ellie Ku...
Leaving dance is often a complicated process. There are many many concerns and questions that can arise. For some, managing the transition from expert to novice may be one of the complicated experiences that materializes. Having achieved a high level of skill, the mere thought of shifting focus to anything else can be scary, sad, frustrating, and discouraging, but it can also be revitalizing, promising, exciting, and thrilling. In Episode 89: Quitting Dance, Transitioning from Expert to Novice, ...
Did you know that: - Pain is not biomedical, it is biopsychosocial. - Tissue damage and pain aren’t correlated. - Critical to pain management is getting in touch with bodies and emotions. - Mental health practitioners are an integral part of a patient’s pain management team. Learn this and so much more on DanceWell Podcast’s 88th Episode: On Pain with pain psychologist, Dr. Rachel Zoffness, PhD. Get in touch with Dr. Zoffness: The Pain Management Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Management-...
All people experience a range of emotions in life, including dancers. However, training and professional practice often ask dancers to be hardworking, perseverant, and positive—sometimes even demanding that they smile no matter how they feel. As Kate Wilson LICSW and Miriam Rowan PsyD explain, dancers can become emotionally disoriented when they don’t acknowledge their true feelings. Our guests explain the risks that come from repressing difficult feelings, and they offer insights on how to reco...
We know well that turnout is an integral part of the Western dance aesthetic. This month, we dedicate an episode to taking a deep dive on the very subject. Join us as physiotherapist Lisa Howell discusses where turnout comes from and what can limit it, the repercussions of forcing turnout, the subtleties of maximizing the range that you inherently have and much more. To learn more about Lisa or to see her class offerings, visit: www.theballetblog.com Support DanceWell Podcast by donating - gf.me...
Historically, screenings were a method of gate keeping, and in many places today, they still are. Early selection for flexibility and certain proportions were used to determine who could dance at the Kirov and who could not, for example. In this already exclusive field, how many potentially great careers were dismissed too early on in a screening process? How many creative, innovations of dusty traditions were discouraged? In addition to thinking about who gets to wear pointe shoes, our guest, J...
In January 2021, Mirriam-Webster Dictionary added a handful of new words to its pages. Among them was the new definition for the word 'bubble.' Thanks to the pandemic, a bubble can be 'an area within which sports teams stay isolated from the general public... so as to prevent exposure to disease and that includes accommodations, amenities, and the location at which the games are held'. Bubbles, and the generous foundations and donors who support them, have been partially responsible for keeping ...
In this episode, Dr Antonio Ocana discusses addiction in dance. He shares information about the rates of addiction in our field, the nature of these addictions, and their causes—at both a biochemical level and a cultural level. To learn more about Dr Ocana: https://www.epiphany360.io/about-us-1 Contact him: aocana@epiphany360.io Want to contribute to DanceWell Podcast? Follow this link to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/dancewell-podcast-season-4-fundraiser Host: Ellie Kusner Co-Hosts: Ellie Ku...
We've heard from the dance medicine and science community on a variety of topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode, we turn our attention to our dancers to ask how they've been doing during this past year as the dance world has been put on pause. Thank you to Alexandra Carter @alliegcarter, Jennifer Sydor @jensydor, Sofia Blasco @thedancermovement & www.thedancermovement.com, and Alexa Torres for sharing your experiences on this episode of DanceWell! Support DanceWell Podcast...
What is hormone health? How do you know when your hormones are not in balance? What can we do to support hormone health? These are the introductory questions Dr. Nicky Keay answers in this episode. We then move on to specifics like, hormone fluctuations throughout life, calcium, Vitamin D, cortisol, RED-D, and a bit more. To learn more about Dr Keay and contact her: https://nickykeayfitness.com/ Want to contribute to DanceWell Podcast? Follow this link to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/dancewe...
Senior career counselor Patch Schwadron says that, prior to covid, dancers used to come in to her office at the Career Center at the Actors Fund only after getting the idea in their head that it was time to move on from dance. Now though, the pandemic has given her a chance to change that paradigm. She wants dancers to come in at all stages of their career, not to think about moving on, but instead to think about how they can expand their function within the art form. Get in touch with Patch at:...
In Episode 79, Jess Spinner talks to us about motivation. In the midst of this pandemic, dancers globally are faced with very unfamiliar training practices and uncertain futures, and for many, it’s hard to connect with their passion and remember why they're dancing. How can dancers stay motivated under these stressful and restrictive circumstances and even in the best of times, when it can still be challenging to stay motivated to train, practice, take care of themselves at the highest level, as...
Effective attention and focus are known components of a successful artistic performance. As audience members, we know how powerful it can be to see a dancer who is supremely focused in the present moment. And as dancers, we know that an inability to maintain our attention on the task at hand can result in poor performance or even yield disastrous outcomes. In Episode 77: Attention and Focus, Clare Guss-West explains more about this important topic. She shares a bit of the existing research on at...
Eating well doesn’t have to be about expensive smoothies and supplements. This episode highlights how our dancers who are living on a budget or perhaps in a dorm room without blenders or extensive kitchen equipment can still eat healthfully. Take a listen as dietician Dafna Tsadok-Hai talks about staples dancers should keep in their pantries and simple, quick recipes dancers can use to meal prep without breaking the bank! Have questions for Dafna or want to get in touch, send her an email (info@...
What happens after your OB clears you to return to activity after approximately 6 weeks postpartum? Is it wise to take your first ballet class the day after clearance? As it turns out, things like prolapse, incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction and pain are more common than we realize postpartum and require some attention in order to return to activity in full. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Julia Rosenthal PT, DPT, OCS, PRPC who will talk briefly about a wide range of topics to consider...
In Episode 75: Specificity in Dance Training, Nico Kolokythas, ASSC, PhD explains the training principle of “specificity” and how it applies to dance, from many angles. We discuss general fitness parameters, why they matter and whether dancers typically meet standard benchmarks. Then, Nico explains a bit about early specialization and also diversification of movement. Finally we debate performance enhancement and how conditioning for dancers can realistically serve this aim. To learn more about ...
There is no doubt about it, we need sleep! But just how much do we need and why is it so important? Join us as Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi, DPT, OCS, CFMT educates on oh why sleep matters! Connect with Dr. Sheyi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsheyipt/?hl=en Support DanceWell Podcast by donating - https://gf.me/u/yxv25p Host: Marissa Schaeffer Co-Hosts: Ellie Kusner and Marissa Schaeffer Website: www.dancewellpodcast.com Email: DanceWellPodcast@gmail.com Introduction Soundscape: Brendan Berry...
The human body is host to an inconceivable number of microbes, and while some can cause us problems, we enjoy a symbiotic relationship with most of them. In fact, as our community of bodily microbes eat, reproduce, "breathe" and digest, it affects everything from bone health to immune function. In Episode 73: A Dancer's Microbiome, Drs Hoaglin and Agnello provide an introduction to what the human microbiome does, how it works and what allows it to flourish or causes it damage. We discuss particu...
