dance usa

The Dance/USA Taskforce for Dancer Health – An Introduction

April 7, 2019 by 4dancers

Recently I was given the opportunity to serve on the Dance/USA Taskforce for Dancer Health, and attended the group’s semi-annual meeting in New York City. The Taskforce is the dance medicine arm of Dance/USA, an organization that serves the professional dance community in the USA. It is a small group, numbering about 100 nationwide — and there were 38 of us at the meeting. I have known a number of these dedicated professionals for several years, including the current Executive Committee:

Co-chair: Nancy Kadel, MD (Seattle)
Co-chair, Treasurer, Screening Co-chair: Heather Herod Cole, PT, COMT, CPI (Nashville)
Secretary: Kathleen Davenport, MD (Miami)
Screening Co-chair: Mandy Blackmon, PT, DPT – (Atlanta)

I’m pleased to be able to share information about the Taskforce and their work in dance medicine — please pass it on! – Jan Dunn, MS, Dance Wellness Editor

Dance/USA is a national service organization for professional dance – membership is open to dance company directors / managers / agents / producers and presenters / service organizations, as well as individual dance artists and students. The website’s home pages gives the Vision and Mission Statement:

Vision:

Propelled by our belief that dance can inspire a more just and humane world, Dance/USA will amplify the power of dance to inform and inspire a nation where creativity and the field thrive.

Mission:

Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations. Dance/USA’s core programs are focused in the areas of engagement, advocacy, research and preservation.

Engagement: Dance/USDA engages and activates its network through meaningful programs, convening, and educational opportunities.
Advocacy: Dance/USA advocates for the increased visibility of, and engagement in, dance and for government policies that positively impact the dance field on a national, regional, and local level. In this area, the organization maintains an office in Washington, DC, to represent and advocate for the field of dance in Congress.
Research: Dance/USA provides rigorous, relevant, and accessible research for the dance field.
Preservation: Dance/USA provides resources and programs to advance the archiving and preservation of America’s dance legacy.

The Taskforce on Dancer Health is composed of medical professionals, all volunteer, who work directly with professional dance companies and professional dancers across the USA and Canada. Their mission is to maintain the health, safety, and well being of professional dancers, and it was formed in the winter of 2005 at the request of the Council of Managers for Dance/USA.

The Goals of the Taskforce are to provide experienced and expert health information and support to professional dance companies of all sizes and budgets (and genres). Two of their major efforts are in helping companies establish an Annual Post-Hire Health Screen, and a three-year project to track injury patterns in professional dance companies.

The Screening’s primary purpose is designed to detect potentially life-threatening or disabling medical or musculoskeletal conditions that might limit the dancer’s safe participation in their dance work. In addition, it is designed to determine the general overall health and fitness level, and to make recommendations based on the information gleaned in the Screen. On this website, 4dancers.org, we have had previous articles on screening and why it is an important tool for all dancers–professional or not. Currently there are over 30 professional companies which participate in the Dance/USA Screening Program.

Informational Papers:

An additional goal of the Taskforce is to serve as a resource for information on health and wellness. To that end, there are free informational papers available on the website. They are not meant to take the place of the advice of a medical professional. These papers are brief overviews of different topics, all written in everyday language — current papers are:

Vitamin D and Calcium: Tips for Dancers
Dancer Health Tips: Heat Illness and Hydration
Dancer Health Tips: Backstage First Aid Kit Necessities
Dancer Health Tips: Staying Healthy on Tour
Tips for Dancers on Anxiety
Tips on Depressive Illness for Dancers
Tips on Concussions for Dancers

New papers are released on the website and updated throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to check back periodically and see if there is new information to be found.

Dance/USA and the Taskforce on Dancer Health provide excellent resources for the dance world. Clearly it is aimed at professional dancers, but the information provided is valuable to studio teachers as well – especially in terms of the screens and informational papers. If you are not already familiar with it, I encourage you to take a look.

Here is a direct link to this section of the website.

For further questions contact: dancerhealth@danceusa.org

The Dance USA Conference — Austin, TX, 2016

August 8, 2016 by 4dancers

***Dance USA Conference 2016, Ballet Austin***

by Catherine L. Tully

June 8-11 marked the 8th Annual Dance USA Conference, and this year it was held in Austin, TX. As in prior years, people came from all over to converse, network, enrich their knowledge base, and discuss the current state of our field. Nearly 500 dance professionals joined together, taking some time to both create new bonds and strengthen existing ones. This conference provides a much-needed “time-out” where space is set aside to concentrate on the big picture instead of the day-to-day tasks that consume so much of our time.

***Dance USA Executive Amy Fitterer addresses attendees***

Representatives from the dance community gathered for a wide range of sessions. First timers and long-standing attendees mingled and shared perspectives on the topics presented. Conferences have a way of transcending barriers, and this one was no exception. As a matter-of-fact, Executive Director Amy Fitterer made an announcement that came as a (pleasant) surprise to many about the National Company Roster (NCR) – summarized nicely on the Dance USA website: [Read more…]

Dance Medicine: IADMS 25th Annual Meeting

October 24, 2015 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

The International Association for Dance Medicine and Science held their 25th annual meeting in October at the Marriott City Center in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Starting off with a day for teachers, the gathering spanned a four-day period that offered networking opportunities, information-sharing, and an overall sense of purpose that was clear and heartfelt.

As a first-time attendee, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the meeting with those who may be interested, and those who might want to consider going in the future. After all, next year’s meeting is in Hong Kong, which would make a lovely trip!

I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with this unique group of professionals, and felt the experience was definitely worthwhile. As most of you are already aware, I’m very passionate about the topic of dance wellness, and I’d love nothing more than to see IADMS continue to grow and connect with dancers and dance teachers everywhere.

So…here are some thoughts on the experience from my perspective, along with a few photos that should give a little context to my narrative.

Networking

Without question the single largest benefit to attending this meeting is the networking. The IADMS gathering brings professionals together from all over the world, giving them a chance to compare notes, talk dance medicine, and, perhaps most importantly, get to know one another.

Even with the magic of connecting via the web, there is just no substitute for face-to-face interaction. To that end, I enjoyed having the chance to meet the members of our own Dance Wellness Panel in person for the first time, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the planning time we had to solidify topics we’ll share with readers throughout the year (stay tuned!).

Although IADMS is smaller gathering of professionals than conferences such as Dance USA and the Dance Teacher Summit, it actually works to the advantage of the organization in this case. It simply felt much easier to connect with people here. Faces became familiar after a day or two, and because of that, it made approaching people less intimidating–even for a somewhat introverted person, such as myself.

Several events were incorporated into the meeting’s overall framework that allowed participants the chance to just relax and mingle a bit. Among these were the welcome reception Friday evening, and the “dance party” on Saturday night.

Information

The information presented at the IADMS meeting fell into three primary formats: lectures, movement sessions, and poster presentations. There were also a number of tables on-hand from various supporters and exhibitors. To try and summarize everything offered is quite an impossibility, so an overview of the main categories is offered here instead…each with a few examples…

Lectures

Throughout the event there were numerous lectures available for attendees to take in — from “Nutritional concerns in vegetarian and vegan dancers“ to “The science of motor learning: creating a model for dance training” to “Anterior hip pain in a dancer – an alternative diagnosis.”

Injury prevention/treatment, teaching strategies, metabolism, and dancer fitness were just some of the topics addressed by professionals from the podium. Lecture sessions were typically brief and specific, with accompanying slides. Following each lecture there was an opportunity for questions/comments.

Poster Presentations

Poster presentations offered another approach in terms of information sharing and engagement. Posters were displayed in a room where attendees could peruse them and discuss ideas with one another at a leisurely pace. These sessions were lively, and many people took advantage of the opportunity to join in the conversation.

There were two poster presentation slots during the span of the meeting, and a wide range of topics were covered, such as, “Differences in sway area observed in ballerinas en demi pointe and en pointe,” “Can textured insoles improve ankle proprioception and performance in dancers?” and “Building a safe environment for private dance sectors: a business model to provide healthcare for dancers.”

Movement sessions

In addition to the posters and lectures, the IADMS meeting also provides numerous “movement sessions” where participants have the chance to explore thoughts and ideas in a more “hands-on,” active environment.

Some of the movement sessions included: “Using technology for movement analysis in the dance studio,” “Incorporating conditioning into a modern dance technique class,” and “Gaga, Ohad Naharin’s movement language,” among many others.

Unlike the lecture sessions which are generally rather short in length, the movement sessions typically run about 50 minutes, giving attendees the chance to dig in a bit and try some things out for themselves.

Camaraderie

In my time at the meeting I met a wide range of educators, students and dance medicine professionals — from seasoned, founding members of the field — to brand new faces just joining the ranks after graduation.

It was wonderful to see such a large span of ages and experience levels in attendance, and exciting to think about the possibilities that bringing this group of people together offers to the dance community throughout the world.

For more information on IADMS, please visit their website, and be sure to keep an eye on their blog. Those hoping to attend the 26th annual meeting in Hong Kong can keep an eye out for details on the site, and membership information is there as well.

Disclosure: 4dancers attended the 25th annual meeting on a press pass granted by IADMS, but no monetary compensation was received for coverage of the event. All transportation, lodging, and meals were paid for by 4dancers.

10 Tips For Navigating The Dance Conference

January 5, 2015 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

Whether you are attending your first dance conference ever–or your twentieth, there are certain things you can do to help maximize the time you spend there. We have assembled a list of ten that we think are pretty important, but we’re also pretty sure that readers will have more to add…

Feel free to leave a comment for us on anything you have found to be useful. We’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, take a look at these as you begin to map out your schedule for the coming year…

Create your own plan

No matter what the dance conference is you are attending, there is a reason why you are going to that particular one. Keep your goals in mind when you are planning what sessions you are going to attend. And don’t feel like you have to do it all!

Take a good look at the sessions that are offered on the web and map out a plan for what you’d like to see/experience. Customize your schedule so that you can get the most out of the time you spend there. Having a plan is half the battle.

Try to stay flexible. Keep in mind that once you get to the conference you may need to alter your schedule depending on what comes up.

Utilize the business card

Business cards aren’t used that often anymore, but conferences are the perfect place for them. Bring a big stack of cards with you and pass them out whenever you can. Make sure your social media information is on them (if applicable) as well as your contact info.

As you get cards from other people, jot down any information you can that will help you remember who that person is and why you might want to follow up with them. It will be really hard to remember these things later—especially after meeting lots of people and getting lots of cards.

Plan some meetings ahead of time

[Read more…]

Lauren Warnecke On “The Year Of The Conference”

December 22, 2014 by 4dancers

by Lauren Warnecke

Some say, “If you’ve been to one conference, you’ve been to them all,” but having attended four conferences this year I’m not so sure I agree. 2014 was “the year of the conference” for me, mostly because I’ve been excited to share some of my survey research on dance injuries and cross-training. Plus, as a first year PhD student (you knew that, right?), it seemed like a great way to insert myself into the academic community. My work was presented three times: in Bowling Green, Ohio last February at the Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS), in October at the Annual Meeting for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) held in Basel, Switzerland, and again last month at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)’s annual conference in Chicago. I also attended Dance/USA’s conference in June, sans my science-y hat. I presented twice with my research assistant Molly, and each was slightly different in length, but on the whole each presentation was roughly the same.

Why give the same information at three conferences? Three reasons: practice, pointers, and pageantry.

Let me explain.

When you’re involved in research, it’s really easy to get lost in your work. It’s big. It’s overwhelming. Sometimes, you forget the point. Continually putting myself into situations that force me to articulate and defend my work is a really important part of the process. Otherwise, I might get in front of my committee, years from now, when it really counts, and totally bomb it. So, in my view, the more times I can talk about what I’m doing, the better (practice).

Practicing in front of audiences full of draconian observers from all different fields is better still. In the three conferences at which I presented, I yielded opinions and observations from exercise psychologists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, body conditioning specialists, medical doctors, and dance educators. I can say quite confidently that the dance educators were the toughest crowd. It is vital to the success and longevity of researcher that we communicate with individuals working in the field – those putting our ideas into practice. I consider the feedback I received from guests at my NDEO presentation to be critical information that can inform the future directions of my research (pointers).

Finally, conferences are awesome. Though often overwhelming and exhausting, there’s quite a pomp and circumstance surrounding the coming together of like-minded individuals. I mean, I went to Switzerland (Switzerland!) for a 10-minute presentation. Plus, the schmoozing, the fancy parties and catering (pageantry)….

Though the format, the networking, the light appetizers and harsh scrutiny are par for the course at any conference, I found each conference I attended this year to be a unique experience. The exercise psychologists we spoke to in February had no idea about dancers, and helped me draw connections between dance companies and athletic teams. IADMS opened me eyes to a rich pool of dance researchers that I hardly knew existed. As the sole dance researcher at a university with no dance program, I often feel like I’m on an island. IADMS assured me that there are many dedicated individuals in the world who have similar passions and goals. NDEO allowed me to interact with the educators who may actually benefit from this research. And without application, research is pretty much pointless.

One thing is clear: dancers, researchers and educators are passionately committed to dance. We have different skills, experiences, and approaches, but ultimately we all want the same things: inspired performances, health and wellbeing among dancers, longevity of the dancer’s career, and intelligent training practices. By working my way through the conference circuit this year I have never been more certain of that.

Contributor Lauren Warnecke is a Chicago-based dance writer/researcher and educator. She holds degrees in Dance (BA, ’03) and Kinesiology (MS, ’09), and is currently a full-time faculty member and doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Lauren researches trends in dance injuries, cross-training, and performance, and created the dance blog Art Intercepts in 2009. She is a dance critic for SeeChicagoDance, columnist at Windy City Times, a Huffington Post blogger, and a contributor to the websites Dance Advantage and 4dancers. Lauren has freelanced as a production/stage manager, curator, choreographer, and grant writer, doing nearly every job in the dance world at some point. She is a Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM) and Functional Training Specialist (ACE), enjoys coffee and vintage apparel, and believes in the Oxford comma. Follow Lauren on Twitter @artintercepts.

Networking

Information

Lectures

Poster Presentations

Movement sessions

Camaraderie

Create your own plan

Utilize the business card

Plan some meetings ahead of time

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