Dance training often becomes more intensive as students reach their mid- to late teens. This is the time when, in many cases, a dancer’s commitment is increasing and they may be considering the move from part-time to full-time training. It is a transition that can prove exhausting and problematic if they do not know how to take care of themselves. In addition, the increasing physicality and athleticism required by teachers and choreographers place ever-growing demands on dancers’ bodies and stamina levels.
If dancers do not know how to manage their health and wellbeing, they often pay the price with illness, injuries and time off for rehabilitation.
Enter a “wellness” program. A wellness program is a holistic approach to the wellbeing of an individual and usually incorporates a range of health and fitness strategies, covering all aspects of health from the psychological to nutritional.
Read Michelle Dursun’s article about this holistic approach to training in the current Feb/Mar issue of ‘Dance Australia’.