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Introducing: The Bridge Dance Project

October 20, 2020 by 4dancers

by Jan Dunn

I’m pleased to be able to tell you about The Bridge Dance Project (BDP), a newly launched cooperative endeavor between leaders in the dance medicine and science field, and the competition / commercial dance field.

The Project began as an outgrowth of conversations between myself, and Kaycee Cope Jones, MS (COO of Apolla Performance Footwear,) in the fall of 2019, following the release of the Apolla Mia Michaels video series on injury prevention in dance. Michaels is an Emmy-award winning choreographer based in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

There has been a growing concern about the increasing number of injuries to young dancers — about the body potentially being “pushed too hard / too far”.  In Mia Michael’s video #3, she mentions as an example — a 16-year old dancer with a double hip replacement. The field of Dance Medicine and Science has been in existence for 40 years, and up to this point, has positively influenced primarily the professional ballet and the academic dance communities. Unfortunately, this has had very little crossover into the commercial and competition dance areas.

There have been some efforts to help integrate this work into this dance communities (such as the Artists and Athletes Initiative – AAI – which debuted at the June 2019 National Dance Honors convention in Las Vegas), and overall, there is a strong need for this type of effort to increase.

The goal of the Bridge Dance Project is to build a bridge between the current realm of dance medicine and science and the commercial / competition areas of dance — to bring more information, working collaboratively together, into the daily lives of dancers working in this area. 

Although this project was started as an outgrowth of the Mia Michaels / Apolla videos, it is not about endorsing any particular product / project / or endeavor. The BDP is about leaders in both fields coming together to address a specific need in a specific segment of the dance community, independent of any organizations or companies we may otherwise be involved with. Here is what BDP is all about:

Vision Statement – The Bridge Dance Project is a grassroots network supporting the whole-person health and wellness of competition and commercial dancers and teachers by providing current dance medicine and science information.

Mission Statement – The Bridge Dance Project builds bridges between the competition and commercial dance community and the dance medicine and science community by providing easily accessible, readily applicable, and personally empowering information. 

The Significance of Our Work – The knowledge we communicate and transfer can contribute to increasing the longevity of dancers’ careers and help them navigate the demands of dance with a 360-degree view of the dancer. We are passionate about our efforts because properly applied education is powerful and will lead to positive and healthy changes for the current and future generations of dancers.

A Board of dance and dance medicine professionals was created to begin the work which we are all envisioning:

  • Katie Schaar — Founder of Sugarfoot Therapy / co-founder of MOTI Physical Therapy in Los Angeles / commercial choreographer and convention teacher / AAI team
  • Gayanne Grossman, PT —Director of Dance Wellness, Muhlenberg College (PA) / PT for Lehigh Valley Network Performing Arts Wellness Program / BOD of IADMS / author of “Dance Science: Anatomy, Movement Analysis, and Conditioning”
  • Selina Shah, MD — Sports and Dance Medicine, BASS Medical Group, / Team Physician – Axis Dance Company, Diablo Ballet Company, Oakland Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School / Healthy Dancers’ Clinic, Mills College / Treasurer and Board of Directors, IADMS / Dance USA Taskforce on Dancer Heath / 4dancers.org Dance Wellness Panel
  • Jeff Russell, PhD, ATC, FIADMS –Associate Professor, Athletic Training and Director, Science and Health in Artistic Performance – Ohio University / dance medicine and science researcher / Research Advisory Group – Cirque de Soleil
  • Bonnie Robson, MD — Psychiatry / dance medicine in Toronto, CA — formerly with National Ballet School / currently on Dance Wellness Team – Ballet Jorgen / Dance USA Taskforce on Dancer Health
  • Robin Kish, MS, MFA — Chapman University Dance Faculty, in Orange, CA / strong background and connections in competition dance / dance science researcher / co -author of recently published second edition of “Dancing Longer Dancing Stronger”
  • Teri Rowe, MS – Executive Director, National Dance Coaches Association, based in LeClerc, ID
  • Jasmine Challis, BSc – Freelance Registered Dietitian and Eating Disorder Specialist, One Dance UK (London, UK)
  • Caroline Lewis-Jones:  Health Made Simple PRO, Certified Holistic Health Coach / Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Professional Dancer/Choreographer, Mom on a Mission, Adrenaline Dance Convention Senior Faculty, AAI Team – Columbia, SC
  • Heather Southwick, PT, MSPT – Director of Physical Therapy, Boston Ballet / Dance USA Taskforce on Dancer Health 
  • Jennifer DePaola – Founder, Doctors for Dancers
  • Steve Karageanes, DO, FAOSM – Medical Director, St. Mary Mercy Hospital Elite Sports Medicine and Sports Performance / Advisory Board – YPAD
  • Jan Dunn, MS / Kaycee Cope Jones, MS – Co-Chairs

Since the BDP was formed, we have created partnerships with dance organizations with whom we share similar goals:

  • Acrobatic Arts – AcrobaticArts.com
  • Project BreakAlign –  www.projectbreakalign.com
  • Dancers Network – www.dancersnetworkuk.com
  • Doctors for Dancers – www.DoctorsForDancers.com
  • I-Path: International Performing Arts and Theatre – www.i-path.biz
  • National Dance Coaches Association – www.nationaldancecoaches.org
  • Relative Motion – www.therelativemotionexperience.com
  • ScapeDanceScience – https://www.scape.sg/scapedance/scapedance-science/
  • Sugarfoot Therapy – sugarfoottherapy.com
  • YPAD: Youth Protection Advocates in Dance – ypadnow.com
  • International Asso.of Child Development Program – https://iacdp.org

BDP Research Projects, under the direction of Board member Dr. Jeff Russell, PHD, AT, FIDAMS are underway, on several topics related to competition / commercial dance.

There are now BDP chapters, both in the USA and EU, including:

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Orange County, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Portland, OR
  • Denver, CO
  • Detroit / Ann Arbor, MI
  • Chicago, IL
  • Central New Jersey
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Washington, DC
  • UK
  • Barcelona, Spain

If you are interested in contacting one of these local chapters, contact the Team Leader (information available on the BDP website).

If you are interested in potentially forming a new group in the USA, contact Jan Dunn at jddanmed@aol.com.

If you are out of the USA, and interested in forming a new chapter, contact Nefeli Tsiouti, MSc, at projectbreakalign@gmail.com.

Current Projects:

  • The above-mentioned research, under the direction of Jeff Russell.
  • Helping NDCA (National Dance Coaches Asso.) develop national standards for dance team coaches.
  • A video on stress in competition dancers, being developed by the Cincinnati chapter.
  • Developing a Teachers Handbook in collaboration with I-Path (International Performing Arts and Theatre), for use in their training curriculum.
  • Partnering with YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance), to help increase awareness of sexual abuse issues in dance.
  • Developing a workshop in Los Angeles, in collaboration with IADMS (International Asso. for Dance Medicine and Science) and Ballet Beyond Borders, to be held in January (details TBA).

BDP Social Media Information:

Website: https://thebridgedanceproject.com/

Instagram: @thebridgedanceproject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com / informationBDP/

Dance Spirit magazine article:  https://www.dancespirit.com/bridge-dance-project-dance-injury-2641177786.html

Sign up to be on our mailing list at:

https://forms.gle/wrBYdjZBjxLLQzES6

OR you can contact one of the chairs.:  Jan Dunn, jddanmed@aol.com / Kaycee Cope Jones, kaycee@apollaperformance.com

Filed Under: Dance Wellness Tagged With: commercial dance, competition dance, dance injuries, dance medicine, dance science, dance wellness, jan dunn, mia michaels

Taking Dance Classes Online – Adapting Expectations

April 9, 2020 by 4dancers

We’re pleased to bring you a timely article revolving around the current COVID-19 crisis / quarantine, and the many online dance classes that we are now seeing on social media. It is wonderful that we have these online resources for our dancers–however, we need to continually be mindful of how best to safely bring online dance classes to homebound students.

Our guest contributor is Sutton Anker, MSc. Sutton has a strong background in dance medicine and science, having done her BFA (concentration in dance science) at University of Wyoming, with Margaret Wilson, PhD and Jennifer Deckert, MFA–two prominent researchers in the field. She went on to obtain her MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, and remained in the UK for two years. While in the UK, she completed her Safe in Dance International (SiDI) Certification, and also became a SiDI Provider (meaning she can teach courses for certification), one of only two in the USA. She is based in Denver, CO, USA, where she is affiliated with Denver Dance Medicine Associates, and teaches at a competition dance studio. She is also a BASI Pilates instructor, and works for IADMS (International Association for Dance Medicine and Science).
Enjoy the article, and please pass it on.

Take care / stay healthy / stay safe — Jan Dunn, Dance Wellness Editor


Almost overnight, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some elements of our lives have turned upside down, including many activities moving to virtual platforms. From work meetings and coffee dates to game nights and dance classes, our activities are now largely mediated by a screen. My partner’s workspace used to be a corporate office, sitting at a desk, with a computer screen in front of him, talking to people. The only thing that has changed now for him is no more corporate office, but instead a bedroom office and our cat is able to cuddle up next to him.

In comparison, my workspace used to be a vast open room, with a marley sprung floor, a surround sound system, and barres along the perimeter. My workspace is now my 6ft by 6ft carpeted living room, with no overhead lights, a couch, and a coffee table I have to move into the dining area before every class. Luckily, cat is also included.

My dance students are dancing in their bedrooms, because their family is occupying other parts of the house. Their only option is a 3ft by 4ft (if that) carpeted area next to a bed and a cluttered desk, with a lamp as their only light source. Or, they’re dancing in their family living room where the dog won’t let them successfully hold a plank and thinks it’s play time, and you hear a parent talking in the background! Distraction much? This dark, small, cluttered bedroom might be ideal to a teenager when they can use this space as their getaway sleeping nook–but suddenly it has become their classroom, bedroom, social hangout, and now dance studio.

Social media is booming with virtual class offerings from local studios, professional companies, and individual dance artists. This provides dancers an exciting opportunity to stay connected to a community and to keep their bodies active during these uncertain times. As I see young students taking classes and videos of dancers popping up on all of my social media pages, I can’t help but think, “Is this safe?” Although there are several benefits to offering online classes–financially, socially, and personally–it is our duty as dance teachers, parents, students, and professionals to safeguard these artists in these changing contexts. Both teachers and dancers must adapt our expectations to meet the change in environment and mental wellbeing.

It is normal to feel sad, unsure, scared, and angry during this time of quarantine. This time is not, and should not be social isolation, but a physical isolation. Fortunately, the virus cannot spread from one screen to another–so aren’t we lucky to have a way to connect? As advised by the World Health Organization, during this time we should stay connected to our family, friends, community, and arts to maintain a healthy mental wellbeing.

Teaching a dance class virtually has allowed us to see our students, maintain our sense of dance community and teachers can continue sharing their passion. But, to what extent? What should we be expecting of them? Should our class flow and demands shift as their dance environment has had to shift? The short answer? Absolutely!

Here is what the research says on the impact the dance environment and mental wellbeing has on safeguarding our students:

  • Dance floor: The quality, size, and characteristics of the dance floor directly relate to injury. Research has shown that that an unsuitable floor is associated with injury when jumping and turning (Quin et al, 2015). Experienced and novice dancers are susceptible to injury, particularly in the lower limb that takes the most impact (Laws, 2008). Injuries associated with jumping on hard or inadequate surfaces include patellar tendonitis, stress fractures in the feet, and shin splits (Simmel, 2009). When turning on an inadequate floor space, like carpet, this can cause a higher risk of injuries in the knee and ankle due to not having the proper foot mechanics. An ideal floor is flat, smooth, sprung to absorb impact, and vast in space.
  • Environment: Ensuring that a dance space is environmentally equipped and safe for dancers is key for overall safe dance practice (Quin et al, 2015). Environmental factors such as proper lighting, adequate space with no obstructions, and temperature can all relate to the safety and risk of injury. If any one of these components is not adequate, adaptations need to change for what can be expected of that dancer.
  • Psychological: Injuries can occur due to psychological factors, meaning when an individual’s mental wellbeing is poor, they are more prone to injury (Skvarla & Clement, 2019). For many of the students, their social and emotional needs are not currently being fully met due to the quarantine, causing their psychological wellbeing to have shifted. Additionally, many young students are adapting to a new schedule and new routine for school, family, and dance. In consideration to routine, adding more to the schedule is unnecessary and can lead to burnout or other harmful physical and psychological outcomes. All of these mental and emotional changes should be considered by student, parent, and teacher in regard to safeguarding during online dance sessions.

Expectations of the dance class should adapt to respond to the changes in workspace- flooring, environment, and mental shifts. Although some students or teachers might have access to large open rooms and a ballet barre, not everyone has that privilege. Student’s safety and health is a teacher’s highest priority. But asking them to jump, turn, and do everything “full out” is not safe during this time.

It is the duty of the dancer to communicate what is possible for them to do in their space, and the responsibility of the teacher to adapt their teaching plans and demands to safeguard their students.

How can we create classes so that they are effective, progress training, and are accessible for each student–regardless of the space? Here are some places to start:

Consider the flow of the class:

First, and foremost, always, warm-up and cool-down. This goes for both teacher and student. Have your bodies and minds ready for the space you are about to move in (Quin et al, 2015).

  • Avoid jumps. Without proper flooring, and adequate cueing from the teacher (which are both difficult in quarantine times), jumping could cause harm to the student and to the teacher demonstrating the movement.
  • Avoid turns, particularly for those on carpet. Implement balance exercises or discuss the mechanics of the turns instead.
  • Although it is recommended to have a peak stage in a class in regard to the demand or challenge of movement, consider how this stage can be reduced for safety or done in a different context than being met physically, like through discuss, research, or watching it done in video.
  • To continue training these elements, consider doing conditioning work and utilizing motor imagery. Have the dancers visualize themselves performing the task or the dance full-out, as this has been shown to be beneficial for the firing of the muscles and success of the movement (Krasnow & Wilmerding, 2015).

Change the content of the class

Emphasize to your dancers they do not have to take every class offered. The body needs a physical and mental rest. Try to stick to your typical dance or workout schedule, including dance styles – avoid adding more in and do not feel obligated to participate.

  • Play a game! This is a great way to keep them moving, thinking creatively, and connected to their fellow dancers. This can be something from your usual dance class transformed to the virtual world or create something new.
  • Let them create movement rather than setting movement on them. We need to adapt to where they are, with a different setting and space allowance. So instead of setting our expectations and making them come to us, let’s come to them.
  • Watch dance together. Find a YouTube video or other platform to watch dance and discuss it together. After watching, the students can create a piece using the film as inspiration.
  • Discuss and implement psychological skills such as meditation, imagery, mindfulness, goal setting, and positive self-talk. It has been shown that teachers who discuss, encourage, and apply psychological skills have a positive impact on dancers’ wellbeing and overall performance (Klockare et al., 2011).
  • Consider implementing Somatic practices taught by you or a Somatic professional.
  • Introduce conditioning and strength training classes. There are various platforms available for Pilates, conditioning, etc. Be sure to check the qualifications of the instructor to ensure you are receiving correct and research supported information.

Ask the experts!

There are many professionals in the dance and dance wellness world currently stuck in their homes eagerly wanting to share their knowledge. Reach out and invite them to your Zoom session and discuss their expertise with your dancers. This is a great opportunity to engage our students with the dance and dance wellness communities on a larger scale. For example:

  • Invite a dance medicine PT in to talk about injury reduction.
  • Invite a nutritionist in to inform them that as delicious as salty potato chips are in the midst of a quarantine, we should keep a balanced diet to fuel our bodies with proteins, starchy carbs, good amounts of veggies, and fruits (Challis & Stevens, 2016).*
  • Ask a Pilates instructors or a conditioning coach to provide exercises that can be done with little to no equipment in small spaces to keep dancer’s bodies strong and mobile.
  • Reach out to a professional dance company to see if one of their dancers will share their experiences.
  • Need some contacts? Here are some sites to start searching:
    • 4dancers.org (we have plenty of great resources right here!)
    • International Association for Dance Medicine and Science; IADMS Medicine and Education Organization Page
    • Denver Dance Medicine Associates
    • OneDance UK
    • Safe in Dance International

Although we all desperately miss our vast studios and the energy of the dance space, the quarantine is a necessity for the wellbeing of our communities and our economy, locally and globally. We are creative by nature and are able to continue moving, creating, learning, and sharing during this. Let’s be sure we are doing so in a manner that facilitates the safety and wellbeing of ourselves and our students.

(*Updated 4/11 to be more inclusive of healthy eating specifics.)


Sutton Anker
Sutton Anker, MSc

Sutton Anker has a strong passion for teaching: dance technique, dance science/wellness, Pilates, and creative movement classes for all ages and abilities. Her interest in dance medicine and science began at the University of Wyoming where she earned her B.F.A. in 2013 in Dance concentration of Science. Throughout her time at Wyoming, Sutton participated in and co-coordinated various dance science research projects, while also spending time on the stage both during her four years and post-graduation.

In 2015, Sutton graduated with her Masters of Science in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, U.K. Sutton has presented two of her mirror research studies including her Master’s thesis, An Investigation of Pedagogical Rationales for Current Mirror Use in a Ballet Technique Class at the 2016 IADMS conference in Hong Kong.

Sutton’s personal and academic interest in pedagogy and advocacy for safe dance practice is what drew her to be a Safe in Dance International (SiDI) Registered Provider, teaching safe dance practice to dancers, teachers, and parents throughout the U.S.  Alongside teaching dance technique at a local studio, Sutton is a BASI Pilates instructor educating and working with individuals, and dancers, on their personal wellness. In 2019, Sutton joined IADMS as the Program and Marketing Specialist to assist teams across the organization to plan, coordinate, and implement successful conference programming and marketing campaigns. In addition to her teaching and IADMS role, Sutton teaches workshops on dance wellness and Pilates for dancers on behalf of SiDI and Denver Dance Medicine Associates.


References:

Cumming J, Duda JL. Profiles of perfectionism, body-related concerns, and indicators of psychological health in vocational dance students: An investigation of the 2× 2 model of perfectionism. Psychol Sport Exercise. 2012; 13(6).

Challis, J. & Stevens, A. (2016). Nutrition Resource Paper. International Associations for Dance Medicine and Science Resources Paper Online.

Laws, K. (2008). Physics and the art of dance: Understanding movement (2nd ed). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Klockare, E., Gustafsson, H., & Nordin-Bates, S. M. (2011). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of how professional dance teachers implement psychological skills training in practice. Research In Dance Education, 12(3). doi:10.1080/14647893.2011.614332

Krasnow, D., & Wilmerding, V. (2015) Motor Learning and Control for Dance. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Quin, E., Rafferty, S., & Tomlinson, C. (2015) Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Skvarla, L. & Clement, D. (2019) The Delivery of a Short-Term Psychological Skills Training Program to College Dance Students. Journal of Dance Medicine and Science 23(4). https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313X.23.4.159

Filed Under: Dance Wellness Tagged With: dance classes on the web, dance wellness, online dance classes, Safe Dance Practice

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

Filed Under: Dance Conferences, Dance Wellness Tagged With: COMT, CPI, dance health research, dance injuries, dance injury patterns, dance injury research, dance medicine, dance usa, dance wellness, Dance/USA screening program, Dance/USA Taskforce on Dancer Health, dancer health tips, DPT, Heather Herod Cole, Kathleen Davenport, Mandy Blackmon, md, Nancy Kadel, PD, professional dance companies, PT

Coverage: Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Symposium 2017

November 11, 2017 by 4dancers

Performing Arts Medicine Association Symposium, Poster Presentation

by Catherine L. Tully

Each type of conference has it’s own unique atmosphere, and each has it’s own sense of purpose and direction. The Performing Arts Medicine Association‘s 2017 Symposium is no exception, and since this was our first time attending, we’d like to give an overall picture of what this gathering is like, and who typically attends. This way, if you aren’t already familiar with the organization, you’ll get a better picture of what they are all about.

Let’s begin with a basic overview of the organization, and it’s mission statement.

What Is PAMA?

Founded in 1989, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, also known as PAMA, is an organization made up of educators, artists, medical professionals, and administrators that share a common goal – improving the healthcare of the performing artist. Unlike the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), PAMA is not just dedicated to the art of dance, but rather includes all performing artists – such as musicians, dancers, and actors.

Originally founded as an organization for medical professionals, membership expanded over the years to include others who were becoming more and more interested in the health and well-being of this sector of the arts. Approximately 20% of the organization is currently from outside of the US. PAMA holds a yearly symposium as a gathering place for members and others that serves to share information about the field, provide networking opportunities, and more.

PAMA’s mission is stated as follows:

The Performing Arts Medicine Association is committed to:

  • Promoting the highest quality of care to all performing artists and bringing to that care an appreciation of the special needs of performing artists.
  • Developing educational programs designed to enhance the understanding and prevention of medical problems related to the performing arts.
  • Promoting communication among all those involved in the health care and well being of performing artists.
  • Fostering research into the etiology, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of medical problems of performing artists.

The Symposium

PAMA Symposium
Registration desk at the Westin in Snowmass – PAMA Symposium, 2017

This year the symposium took place in Snowmass – a lovely setting up in the mountains of Colorado. The Westin provided a home base for the event, as well as space for the sessions that took place throughout. For those interested in dance/dancers, there were a number of different presentations to choose from.

Westin Snowmass
The Westin, Snowmass, CO

Here are some examples:

  • Investigation of the Cardiovascular Endurance of Dance Majors
  • Risk for Hearing Loss due to Noise Exposure in Competition Dancers
  • The First Step: Creating a Dancer Wellness Program That Will Engage and Empower
  • Gaze Behaviour in Dance – the Relevance of Spotting in Pirouettes
  • Injury Prevention and Optimal Performance Training in Dancers

This should give you an idea of the types of presentations there are for people who are invested in the care of dancers and their bodies. There were also poster presentations, and informal gatherings during the course of the symposium.

As with most conferences, the chance to network and make new associations during the span of the event is an important facet when it comes to attending. We connected with a wide range of people during our time there, including authors, medical practitioners, a clinical and performance psychologist, and people from all over the world with an interest in dancer health and wellness. There is no doubt that these people are passionate about the work they do, and it’s wonderful to have some space created for them to come together like this and share what they are working on, and what they have learned with one another.

PAMA poster presentation
Poster Presentation at PAMA

It is our hope that with the growth of the dance wellness section of this site, we will be able to continue sharing information about conferences and symposiums such as PAMA (and others), and that our outreach will help create more pathways for dancers and dance teachers to connect with the important information and research that is taking place all over the world.

Those interested in attending the 36th Annual PAMA International Symposium can view more information about the gathering in Orange, CA here. It takes place from June 30th to July 3rd.

Learn more about PAMA membership levels and benefits on their website.


Disclosure: This author is the editor/owner of 4dancers. She attended the PAMA Symposium on a press pass granted by the organization, but no monetary compensation was received for her coverage of the event. All transportation, lodging, and meals were paid for by 4dancers.

Filed Under: Dance Conferences Tagged With: CO, dance conferences, dance medicine, dance medicine and science, dance wellness, dancer health, iadms, pama, Performing Arts Medicine Association, Snowmass, Westin

Need A Dance Healthcare Specialist? There’s An App For That!

August 30, 2017 by 4dancers

Aloha! I hope everyone is getting back “intro the swing of things” as the new dance / academic year starts up!

Today we are pleased to offer you another piece of exciting information from the UK — we last posted Erin Sanchez’s article on One Dance UK / NIDMS (National Institute for Dance Medicine and Science), and all the good work going on in that country.

This post is from Claire Farmer, another one of the younger generation of dance medicine & science leaders in the UK. Claire is a dancer / Associate Lecturer at Roehampton University, and is also affiliated with One Dance UK. She initiated the website Dance Longer Dance Stronger, and in 2016 launched the Performers Health Hub mobile app, to allow those in the UK dance community to connect more easily with dance medicine healthcare and resources. She now working on eventually launching a USA version of the app.

Enjoy reading about all her good work, and pass it on!

Aloha,
Jan

Jan Dunn, MS, Dance Wellness Editor


by Claire Farmer, MSc

Have you ever felt a twinge, or something that didn’t feel quite right but you’ve also got a class in 10 minutes, followed by a rehearsal and then a million other things to do, so you’ll work out what to do later?

BUT WAIT – STOP!! Shouldn’t our body be our first priority, as our main tool for our work? We know that dancers are busy, but that they also need to be able to quickly access specialist healthcare and to find reliable information on how to care for their body. Luckily, there is a wealth of information available from experts in dancers’ health – but unfortunately this information often doesn’t always make its way to the dancer.

That’s where the Performers Health Hub App comes in. Launched in the UK in November 2016, the app is now expanding to the US. The aim of the app is to quickly connect dancers with reliable, evidence based information on a range of topics including warming up and cooling down, fitness, stretching, hypermobility and nutrition. The app has been developed in response to the high injury rate among dancers and the lack of time available due to the nature of their work, to conduct thorough research in locating top quality healthcare.

If you do experience an injury, the app will also help you to search for a dance medicine specialist near you – either private treatment, practitioners who accept your insurance, or one of the few specialized dance medicine centres scattered across the US – or if you’re in the UK, one of the few free ones. Making sure you receive the best care to ensure you reach your optimal potential as a dancer, and receive the best rehabilitation as a performer, is our top priority.

A study into injury rates in professional modern dancers concluded that a total of 82% of dancers experienced between 1 and 7 injuries within the previous 12 months(1). Of those that sought medical attention 47% were to physicians, 41% to physical therapists and 34% to chiropractors(1). Similar research in the UK reported that 80% of all dancers (professional and student) will suffer an injury each year through training, rehearsal of performance(2) or as a result of fatigue and overwork, insufficient warming-up or cooling-down, recurring injury or not being able to respond to the early warning signs of injury(3).

This highlights the need for dancers to quickly, and easily find the specialist care that will enable them to return to dance training and performance as soon as possible. Resources on the Performers Health Hub are drawn from a consortium of UK organisations at the forefront of dance medicine and science research and advocacy – including: National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science (NIDMS), One Dance UK, Safe in Dance International, British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), and also the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). It will now expand to include resources and clinics in the United States and Canada.

Experiencing an injury can be a very lonely and challenging time for a dancer, and it is hoped that the app will not only help the dancer seek specialist care and information, but to also reduce that feeling of isolation. There are many things we can do to support each other as a dance community internationally and the Performers Health Hub app aims to draw these connections closer, providing support for dancers wherever they are in the world and connecting them with others who have gone through similar experiences.

The app will continue to grow as resources expand and through feedback from dancers, with regular updates taking place to ensure the most up to date information is in the palm of your hand.

The Performers Health Hub is available to download for iOS and Android. For more information visit Dance Longer Dance Stronger, or download from the Google and Apple stores.


Dance Longer Dance Stronger

Dance Longer Dance Stronger was established in 2014, growing out of a need to encourage dancers to be more open about injuries and training, the struggles they face and the training methods they use. Dance Longer Dance Stronger aims to open communication between dancers, and between health professionals so there is a two-way dialogue and so that should a dancer face an injury, they don’t feel alone in dealing with it.

Dance Longer Dance Stronger aims to connect dancers with other dancers who have faced similar health related issues and help dancers find specialist healthcare and easy-to-digest, reliable resources as quickly and easily as possible.


(1)Shah, S,. Weiss, D,. & Burchette, R. (2012) Injuries in professional modern dancers: incidence, risk factors, and management

(2)Laws, H (2005) Fit to Dance 2, Dance UK, Newgate Press, UK: London

(3)Brinson, P & Dick, F (1996) Fit to Dance, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK: London

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BAPAM, Canadian Centre of Performance Psychology, Claire Farmer, Dance Healthcare Specialist, Dance Longer Dance Stronger, dance medicine, dance wellness, dancer injury, iadms, NIDMS, Once Dance UK, Performers Health Hub App, quality healthcare, Safe In Dance International

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