Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education
Mental Performance Consultant, Chantale Lussier-Ley, who works extensively with dancers has already given us her professional advice on “quitting dance” and on nurturing positive rivalry in dance. This time we asked her three quick but big questions on Burnout, Obstacles, Overcommitment. See what she had to say to parents on these important topics.
Long days call for long, lasting energy. The iron in lentils will give you a nutritional boost while their source of soluble fiber will help stabilize your blood sugar. Check out this recipe for Lentil Salad from Joanie Johnson of Motivated Nutrition.
Tired of plain, old water? Quench your thirst and stay hydrated with cucumber water instead! Motivated Nutrition’s Joanie Johnson offers Dance Advantage readers “Nutrition on the Move” in her new column dedicated to delicious recipes for dancers on the go.
Muscle fatigue is good but not when dancers push themselves (or are pushed by directors) to injury. We’re ignoring a crucial part of the formula for increasing endurance and enhancing performance. What is that element and why is it important for dancers to learn when enough is enough?
With an aim to raise the barre on nutrition and encourage healthy eating habits in the dance world and beyond, ballet dancers, Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley created Barre, a real food bar made with natural ingredients. In this interview, Julia and Aaron share their story, their mission, and their own tips and ideas for eating healthfully on a dancer’s schedule with Dance Advantage readers.
Whether your foot concerns are as serious as suffering sesamoids, or as mundane as bothersome blisters, feet are happiest when they are comfortable and healthy. Continuing his Tap Shoeganza series, Tristan provides you with ways to modify tap shoes to make tap dancing much more enjoyable for those with new and/or congenital foot disorders.
Dancers in particular burn many more calories and expend far more energy than the average person. In order to thrive, you need to learn how to prepare healthy, balanced meals that are specially formulated for your rigorous activity level. Learn about sources of complex carbohydrates, protein, and calcium, and take away a couple of quick recipes too.
Achilles was infallible except for the small injury to his heel that killed him. Dancers, too, are prone to injury and stress of the Achilles tendon if they don’t do a few important things. Achilles tendonitis is the big one but it doesn’t have to be forever. Dancers must take great care and follow the proper steps to prevent flare-ups and further injury.
Do you sweat when you dance? A concerned reader asks what she can do about excessive sweating during class. See how I answer with tips and reassurance for greater confidence in a potentially embarrassing situation.
Lauren of Art Intercepts follows our chat with Dr. Craig Westin with some pointers for dancers who are concerned about knee pain and/or injury prevention in this important, yet often fragile joint.
Did you catch “I Sacrificed Everything for Ballet” in the March issue of Seventeen? Guest Melanie Doskocil helps balance the view with some straight talk about ballet training for a career, inviting readers to weigh in with their thoughts on sacrifice, crossing the line, and how to prevent the pitfalls of elite training.
Dr. Craig Westin is an orthopedic surgeon for the Chicago Center for Orthopedics at Weiss Memorial Hospital and medical director of Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet. He has worked extensively with dancers, skiiers, and is a team physician with the U.S. Figure Skating Team. Dr. Westin generously took time out of his busy schedule to talk with Dance Advantage about knee problems, proper alignment, pain, and injuries common to dancers.
