Dancing.

  In these past few days, I have been reflecting a lot on the 'system' dance culture is embedded in , and on how it is a whole combination of things that allowed me to fully recover, not just one.  In my questionnaire , I asked dancers what helped them the most in their recovery. I asked for individual things, which I believe  does  have its validity, but upon reflecting more thoroughly on my  personal experiences with injuries, I realized I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for a  whole  support system.  Doctors : Should have my doctor not so aggressively want me to heal, and get to the source of the problem, I never would have found what I had, and probably wouldn't be dancing anymore.  N.B. please note, this was ONLY possible because of the incredible financial support of my german health insurance.  Physios : You need  to find the right one for you, it's so important! I had terrible  physio experiences on my healing journ...

Dance Injury Management  Coming back from holidays, one realizes that many dancers didn't train...(in a way rightfully ...holidays shouldn't be about work...) but the risk of injuries is high... What to do about that? Despite what they think, and tell one another, dancers don't really feel comfortable  sharing  their predicament with their teachers and directors... As a result of this, teachers and directors navigate the studio virtually 'blind'... For fear, guilt, or embarrassment, dancers don't share if they are struggling with something...so basically, all minor and major injuries are  hidden .  Little tears start to happen. Doctor visits are hidden, and there is an unspoken fear, amongst dancers, that if they talk, they'll be left behind... The weirdest thing is that I've also seen  directors  do the same thing...hiding their injuries from their dancers... The same with teachers... It seems that, no matter the point of the ladder you are at, you ar...

Hello! My name is Elly and welcome to my blog: Dancing. I'm a professional dancer with Ballet Pforzheim, and I am currently embarking on my next academic challenge undertaking a master's degree in Dance Technique Pedagogy. Alongside my dance career, commencing in 2011, I have developed a very strong passion for mentoring, tutoring, and education. I have teaching experience in a variety of contexts, including providing support to those applying to study dance in colleges and universities. Over the course of these years, I have been a youth company rehearsal director, led refugee integration community projects and taught ballet & contemporary dance classes internationally. These have all been incredibly rewarding experiences to say the least. Although I am still quite young, and still learning and growing myself, I have a strong desire to do my best to facilitate others in their personal dance journeys and explorations.  For many years I have dedicated myself body and soul to...