Dance Magazine Features Alberta Ballet School

“These Dance Science Studies Could Change Our Approach in the Studio”

 If you are a dancer or have spent time in a dance studio, you know the strain that countless hours of training, rehearsals, and performances can have on your body. Understanding the body of a dancer is becoming an increased area of interest for medical researchers. Countless medical professionals are working to improve the lives of dancers.

Alberta Ballet School Students’ physical and mental health is of the utmost importance in meeting the demands of professional training and ensuring each student is performing at their optimum. Alberta Ballet School provides on-site wellness services including physiotherapy, massage, naturopath, chiropractic care, nutritional and sport psychological care for our students.

Physical health is a priority for Alberta Ballet School. In partnership with local health-care provider Momentum Health, students of Alberta Ballet School have on-site access to preventative and rehabilitation programs imperative to maintaining the physical health a body requires to dance at an elite level. Alberta Ballet School encourages students to seek the assistance of our health professionals upon first sign of discomfort. We promote an environment where physical health and wellness is a priority. Students, wellness staff and faculty work in tandem to ensure diagnosis, prognosis, recovery requirements and estimated timeline for return are clearly understood and respected.

For these reasons, Alberta Ballet School was thrilled to be featured in Dance Magazine’s focus on research into dancer health in the studio. In the article, Dance Magazine shared that the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science gathered over 500 professionals dedicated to supporting dancers in late 2019 to highlight what they are researching to support dancers.

Alberta Ballet School is dedicated to understanding these topics and working with industry and our own partners to ensure we are continually focused on the physical health of our students. There were several interesting highlights from the conference discussed in the Dance Magazine feature, including:

• Evaluating dance as a high-risk activity “Canadian researchers described the volume of training and injury estimates of 104 professionally training ballet students at Alberta Ballet School. They showed that increases in injury estimates mirrored increases in dance exposure hours,” explained Dance Magazine.
• The importance of strength training to reduce injuries Research conducted in the UK evaluated a new strength and conditioning program that was modeled after FIFA’s 11+ injury prevention regimen. The program resulted in decreased injury by 40 percent.
• The impacts of stress in dancers and academics One study presented at the conference looked at physical and mental stress, and dancers’ recovery process. Findings showed that female dancers experienced a higher level of stress, especially at the end of the academic year. Mental health continues to be a key focus for Alberta Ballet School.Alberta Ballet School’s focus on performance psychology is helping our students effectively manage themselves so they can be their mental and physical best everyday. At Alberta Ballet School, Dr. Natasha Kutlesa (R.Psych), collaborates closely with our students, as well as our faculty, to ensure our students and the school environment as a whole is built for success.
• Correlation between Injury and illness Researchers shared that illness rates and injury rates were not one in the same. Illness rates did not result in time away from dance – while injury did. A continued focus on health in ballet dancers is essential. These studies help us understand the vulnerabilities of dancers and how to best support them at different times in their academic year.
• Approaches for hypermobile dancers Hypermobility disorders are more common among dancers than the general population. A presentation at the conference shared that this condition should be taken seriously, and that research now suggests that the condition usually co-exists with anxiety as well. The researcher provided a checklist of symptoms that those dealing with this condition can use in consultation with a doctor to diagnosis the issue.

We are so glad to be a part of important research that is changing the dance landscape and industry.

To learn more about our Health and Wellness partners and approach visit our Health and Wellness page.

To read the Dance Magazine article in full visit their website.