by Jessica Wilson

‘Injury’ is word that is never far from any dancer’s mind as one of their constant and greatest worries: every year, 80 percent of dancers suffer at least one injury that affects their ability to dance.

Whether it is working to prevent injury, dealing with a current injury or recovering from a past injury, dancers are always considering the implications. The industry as a whole has considerably raised the profile of dance injury in recent years, indicating not only that the arts sector is tackling additional strands to ‘injury’, but also that there has been a significantly low focus on injuries and wellbeing in past years. For example, UK magazine Dancing Times collated a health directory for dancers throughout 2011, providing readers throughout the dance industry with further and definitive information, and offering a wealth of resources in terms of alternative practices. A range of complementary therapies were focused on, including Sophrology (dynamic relaxation) and Osteopathy, as well as more well-known procedures such as Massage and Physiotherapy.

In addition, Dance UK, the UK’s national voice for the dance sector, organised The Dance UK Medical Practitioners Directory as part of their Healthier Dancer Programme, offering access to their free online database of practitioners and complementary therapists for the dance sector. Helen Laws, Healthier Dancer Programme Manager, spoke extensively about the ethos of Dance UK, and the thinking behind the Healthier Dancer Programme. [Read more…]