Yes, diet can help with mood, anxiety and depression
A 15-year-old Ellie* began feeling down much of the time, she ate less, and went through some big struggles with food and feelings. “I think food affects mood, concentration and relationships...
View ArticleIs pain a necessary evil for dancing en pointe? Or is there another way?
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of dancing en pointe. For many aspiring young dancers, and even for adults who start dance late, the idea of dancing en pointe is viewed as the pinnacle of being...
View ArticleSleep, performance and weight management
“It took me far longer then it should have to realise how much of an effect lack of sleep was having on my performance in dance, and later in the classroom,” says Sara Beery, former professional dancer...
View ArticleThe dancer’s guide to Winter
Winter has started to set in, and we are all beginning to freeze! This is a time for extra-concentrated warm-ups, careful cool-downs, and stylish accessories. This handy 10-step guide will get you...
View ArticleVegan diets: A skyrocketing trend, but are they safe for dancers and athletes?
What do Sylvie Guillem, Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Alec Baldwin and Joaquin Phoenix have in common? They are all very public about their vegan diet. While the term “vegan” might still make some...
View ArticleDefining ‘success’ as a dancer
Dancing offers so many beautiful gifts. That’s why so many of us are so powerfully drawn to it. George Balanchine once said “I don’t want dancers who want to dance. I want dancers who need to dance.”...
View ArticleWinter is over: 6 tips to get back in shape the healthy way
There is something about warm weather, swim suits and beach season that motivates us to stick to our healthy lifestyle goals like nothing else. As the weather starts to warm up, here are six realistic...
View ArticleHow to prevent muscle cramping and pain as the weather heats up
Hydration, blood volume, and muscle cramping are a beautifully balanced dance between electrolytes, hormones, enzymes, and the amount of fluid dancers ingest. Staying hydrated is one of the most...
View ArticleFive foods to avoid or limit before a performance
It’s dance concert time! Many non-dancers might not realise how much energy it takes to get through performances requiring dancing in multiple pieces with many costume changes. Since dancers are...
View ArticlePointe shoes: Will they always hurt??
You waited all this time, took the required amount of classes, worked extra hard on your ballet technique and were finally approved by your teacher for pointe. How exciting! You may have visions of...
View Article5 proven superfoods to boost your performance in the New Year
These five foods have the nutrition chops to actually earn the title “superfoods”. There’s substantial research to back up health claims, they’re tried and true staples of today’s ultra endurance...
View ArticleWhy am I not as flexible as my friend?
Sometimes you may find yourself wondering why you’re not as flexible as your friends, or why you’re flexible in different ways. Everybody has his/her own personal potential for flexibility, which means...
View ArticleNutrition for your Dance Festival Weekend
VDF, proudly sponsored by Dance Informa , is fast approaching! I’m sure you’ve picked out your outfits, but have you chosen your snacks? One of the best things you can do to maximize improvement at...
View ArticleHow can I safely improve my arches?
Most dance forms look for “line”, that curvilinear continuity through the body that can be so aesthetically pleasing to the viewer and create the illusion of great length from fingertips to toes. One...
View ArticleVitamin D deficiency is common, and it’s a bigger concern than most dancers...
My daughter is now taking five dance classes a week, so at a recent visit to her pediatrician, I asked about testing for vitamin D deficiency. Our physician stated that in most cases she doesn’t even...
View ArticleResearch shows ballet aides in healthier ageing
Queensland Ballet and QUT released the results of a joint project examining the health and wellbeing benefits of ballet for older Australians. The three-month project, incorporating 10 Ballet for...
View ArticleCaring for your dancing hands and wrists this Winter
As dancers, our hands and wrists help us to execute choreography, express ourselves in movement, propel us through floorwork, and more. Yet the challenges and habits of modern life, such as constantly...
View ArticleThriving through winter with these easy health tips
With the right care and attention to our body and mind, winter can be a time to thrive, to get down to work, and to take great strides toward our goals. How we nourish our body during this time impacts...
View ArticleReal Dancers Eat, and here are some of their secrets
At a recent Atlanta Ballet performance, I was amazed at the level of athleticism, endurance and power that today’s classical and contemporary choreography requires. One minute, dancers are barefoot...
View ArticleAttention dancers: Please do this now!
Dance Informa asked 10 of the world’s most active dance medicine and science experts to name one thing they really, really wish dancers either would or wouldn’t do. Here’s some advice that the experts...
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