Dancers' Health

Health and Fitness
"Dance is about expression and your body is the tool through which you do that. Don't let odd injuries accumulate. Be proactive in looking after yourself - don't seek treatment only when there is something drastically wrong."
Peter Dunleavy, Osteopath and ex-member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre.

In this section you will find a number of practitioners, associations and organisations which offer support, advice and remedial care to dancers. You may find these useful as a starting point but do check out a practitioner's credentials before engaging their services, as by listing them here we are not directly recommending them. We suggest that you take responsibility for your own mind, body and wellbeing by ensuring that the person you entrust with the care and maintenance of your working 'tool' is fully qualified to do so.

If you have any doubts Dance UK should be able to advise you. Full contact details for Dance UK can be found in the Health Organisations section.

Recently published:
Anatomy, Dance Technique and Injury Prevention (Fourth Edition)
(2010) This book is a valuable reference point for dancers, teachers, students, and choreographers.
Written by Justin Howse - a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Senior Physician, and Moira McCormack - a Chartered Physiotherapist working with the Royal Ballet Company.
The book covers: Anatomy and Physiology, Injuries, Strengthening Exercises, and Technical Faults and Anatomical Variations; their Causes, Consequences and Treatment.
Anatomy, Dance Technique and Injury Prevention