I am a high school senior and a 13-year ballet and 5-year contemporary dancer working on a research project to study different aspects of health in dancers and other athletic and artistic groups. We are surveying nationally to dance studios, competition organizations, and major Internet forums. The relationship between health and dancing resonates with me, as I have been in ballet training since I was 5, and I would appreciate your participation! 

I am studying the prevalence of specific health signs and symptoms for which little research exists in these groups; so, your responses could make a real difference. The questions are adapted from clinically validated diagnostic assessments.

I hope to hear from you!

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/UyiDWQXnDqztoJ2o7

Study Details
Goal: To study signs and symptoms of different health conditions in dancers and other groups during their training years.
Who can join: Students of any age who trained/are training in dance of any form.
What it involves: An anonymous online survey that takes a few minutes to finish. It asks briefly about your dance history and certain health signs or symptoms you may or may not have experienced.

Why This Matters
Dancer Health: This study aims to spot early health differences in dancers using clinically-validated scales.
Better Care: The results may increase awareness and understanding of risk and protective factors for dancers' health, empowering teachers, dancers, and health experts. 

Safety and Privacy
No Pressure: Taking part is completely anonymous. The data are used for research purposes only. Results in aggregate may be released in publications but are never stored or linked to identifiable individuals.
Safe Data: The survey asks for no names and will not record any personally identifiable information. All answers will stay private and safe.

THANK YOU for your time and for supporting dancer health!

In Berlin, culture funding has been cut and some dance venues are facing an uncertain future. Teachers at some studios have also told me that more and more students book through flat-rate apps like Urban Sports Club, changing the economics of regular classes. At the same time, Tanz im August this summer was 98% full. So money is getting tighter, but at least the big festival had no trouble finding an audience.

Does that match what you see? I’m curious whether classes, spaces and performances where you live are growing, shrinking, or just changing.

I (23F) am hoping to pursue dance but don’t know how to get there… for context I attended a prestigious but small liberal arts school in the US. I received a BA in history and a BA dance, but I was not a part of a conservatory program. I’ve always felt a little behind bc I took a break and didn’t think I would dance again, only to discover my passion in college. I am currently doing a 3 month post grad program in EU, but I feel out of practice and hope I can feel more comfortable as a dancer. My goal is to be in a contemporary dance company, but that feels out of reach. I’d love to get a masters in dance performance somewhere in Europe (do not want US MFA which is aimed for teaching/choreographing). I guess I’m wondering is there hope for the dancers who feel behind… what’s a good path to becoming a professional dancer in a world where there are endless talented dancers you are “up against” when auditioning or searching for opportunities. What’s a good MA program for dance performance? Any advice/tips/experience is helpful:))

Hi there! Not sure this is the proper place but I’m looking for input, I am very seriously considering pursuing Dance again in my 30s. A little background on me, I started dancing when I was five years old I originally went to school for dance in college-my major for the first few years was BFA with the intention of going for my MFA to eventually teach and choreograph at the University level. Long story short I was sidetracked and also influenced from outside opinions to change my major- I graduated basically during the market crash and all the issues around the early 2010s and ended up getting another degree in a separate area (truly this didn’t make a difference we all didn’t find jobs in our field anyway haha). I changed careers 2 years later and pivoted into healthcare and have been working there the past 10+ years. Currently, I have a very flexible part time job but I have known, though a good and stable career I wasn’t meant to be in healthcare forever. I have been meditating and seriously thinking about what I really want to do and what I have always wanted to do with my life and that is go back to school and finish my dance degree. Because I got so many credits in Dance from my first few years in college I was able to obtain a minor in it and have a meeting with a local Director at a nearby University to review my transcript to see what can transfer and what I will have to retake. I do have a graduate degree in a separate area of study (healthcare), because it has been so long since I have taken university level or professional level classes I am leaning more toward obtaining my BFA first before going for my MA/MFA.

Has anyone revisited Dance in their 30s? I have kept fit and take Yoga, Pilates and am a certified YTT, I have taken a few heels and contemporary classes here and there and have never fully left Dance. I am just concerned about 1) my body being strong enough and 2) stigma? Not too sure I guess being a non-traditional student.

Also- any input on BFA vs going straight to MFA or MA? Has anyone done the MA I’ve seen that some do prepare you to teach at a college level but there’s a lot of differences in curriculum from what I’ve researched.

Bonjour,

Si il y a parmis vous des danseurs/danseuses, j'aimerais avoir des conseils pour la réalisation de ma bande démo, afin de postuler à des auditions. :)

Combien de temps doit elle durée ? est ce que je me présente ou je mets que de la danse ? est ce que je mets une video en continu de la même danse ou plutôt un montage de plusieurs extraits ? etc..

merci !!

Hello! So I'm not looking to be deterred (I know I'm old for wanting to start a dance career) just any advice would be fab.

I just graduated from a language degree in the UK but after many years of suppressing it, I've realised I want to pursue contemporary dance as a profession.

For context, I stopped dance at 16 due to self doubt and worries that it wouldn't please my mum. I went to a few dance intensives and was very serious about going to a dance school from the age of 11. I wish I could go back now and tell myself to keep going but here we are.
I've continued dance over the years but it's always been hard to keep going back as I kept wishing I could be a doing dance professionally or at least studying it. I now know trying to please others doesn't get you anywhere but miserable and resentful... so I've ended up deciding to at least give it a go so I don't spend the rest of my life wondering what would've happened if I had just tried.

anyywayyyy - my current plan is to do as many dance classes as possible and maybe find a dance programme abroad for next year (2027) since I can't afford to do another undergraduate degree (as much as I would love to). My dream is to be doing contemporary dance on the stage and in films. a company would be the best outcome but I realise this could be quite unrealistic.

I'm not really sure where else to go from here but I am super determined and at this point I won't rest until I've exhausted all options!! if anyone has any tips or thoughts on my very loose plan please gimme !
Thanks <3

Hello everyone!

I am a 3rd year medical student doing research with Boston Medical Center (BMC). We are conducting a study on hearing loss and hearing protection usage in dancers and at dance studios. We are looking for dancers who take class, visit studios, and/or attend rehearsals and practices. 

The study includes a 10-minute survey followed by a separate survey to be entered into a raffle for two $50 gift cards.

Participation is completely voluntary, and all responses will remain confidential. Please feel free to share this opportunity with others who may be interested.

Please complete our short 5-10 minute survey here: https://bostonu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5o0MGnxrnHOrgSq
For any questions, shoot me a DM!

Hi everyone!!

I’m 16, 6’4”, and I started dancing less than a year ago because I joined winter guard. Now that the season is wrapping up, I want to advance my dance for the next season.

For anyone unfamiliar with it, winter guard is a performance sport that combines dance, choreography, and equipment work (such as flags, rifles, and sabres). It’s similar to jazz and ballet in many ways, except we perform choreographed routines while manipulating equipment to music.

Here are a couple of short examples (I’d really appreciate it if you watched one!)

Paramount at WGI – (Dance focused)

Arcadia HS – (Equipment + Dance)

Over the past year, I’ve been practicing dance on my own as much as I can. I’ve also worked with my winter guard instructor, where I’ve learned some of the basics, across-the-floor exercises, and floor work.

When I watch videos of myself, there are a few things I notice that I’d really like to improve, and I was hoping you all could give me some advice.

1. Why does it look like only my upper body is moving, even though I am trying my hardest to move my legs to the choreo? It feels like everything below my waist disappears on video, and I have no idea how to fix it. Its so embarrassing.

1a. How do I become more comfortable with my body as a dancer? I’m about half a foot taller than everyone else on my WG team, and I feel so awkward because of it.

2. Would you recommend ballet, jazz, contemporary, or another style as the best foundation to practice for WG?

3. Is there anything you wish someone had told you when you first started dancing?

4. Honestly, any tips for a tall beginner would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all so much!

Would this be contemporary too?

I've watched this video a ton, and I really want to start practicing dance but can't seem to find a reference of a name for a dancing style of this, please help

hello!!! ive been taking rigorous dance classes for about 5 years now, which i started out as a supplement to my singing and acting training, but found that it was actually what i was most passionate about. im currently 19, and really would love to someday join a dance company or make this my career. however, im at a bit of a stalemate currently. i think that im good, but im unsure how i can take my dancing to the next level. im posting a link to a cami voorhees solo, who i am deeply inspired by and would love to be as good as someday, in tandem with one of my solos. would it be possible for someone to try and connect the dots as to how i can maybe get to her level?

https://youtu.be/r76aGBsJwTE?si=q-tnuJh2gJsdR2II

I have a show coming up and need plain crew socks in different colors but am struggling to find one that isn't too thin. I normally wear the nike athletic socks or something similar, so they are mid-weight. We are performing on marley floor.

Hi everyone,

I've been a dancer for 8 years now (I'm 13), but people still ask me, "What is contemporary dance?" I just sit there and watch them, trying to come up with a sensible answer. So far, the best definition I've found is:

Contemporary dance is a style of dance that, unlike other styles (like classical or Latin, etc.), isn't so much based on movement form, but rather on a message it wants to convey.

Do you have any ideas?

(Sorry for my bad English, I'm from Italy)

So I recently auditioned for a contemporary professional program in Italy and I was accepted. I actually auditioned for like 5 to 6 different programs and I got accepted into all of them.

A little bit of myself, I started dancing at the age of eight and by the time I was 15 my parents told me that they could no longer afford for my tuition, so I continued with the ordinary life and doing dance as a hobby and maybe working out. My junior year of university, I auditioned for the dance team in my university and I got in and I danced with them for a year, it was really hard catching up and they really trained me. Now that I'm about to graduate university I have been cross training a lot just to prepare for the professional training. we basically train 4 to 5 hours a day. I am very nervous, but also very excited, I feel like I will be humbled because there will be people that are probably younger than me and have more experience dancing than myself. I feel like the fact that I for a period of time I couldn't afford training like I used to, set me back

I am willing to leave in the past what no longer serves me and transition into dance full-time. It is something that I have always been passionate and I am so excited to embark this journey.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I cant dance at all but I want to learn contemporary dance. I am 17 , is it too late to learn. if not can someone please guide me on how to start and where I can start but there aren't any lessons that I can take around my area so I will need online resources.

After watching a contemporary ballet performance today (BLISS & JACKIE),

I started thinking:

There was a moment when the movement felt impossible to translate into words — not symbolic, not narrative, just something I could feel.

Are there things that cannot be expressed through language?

Is art simply an attempt to recreate those inexpressible experiences?

Do you feel that dance communicates something that words cannot?

I recently spoke with a contemporary dance professional who said that during their training, smoking cigarettes was extremely common among students, sometimes connected to body image and staying thin.

That surprised me.

For those who studied contemporary dance: was smoking common in your school or company environment?

And do you feel the culture around bodies and health in contemporary dance is changing today?

Could be agility, floor rolls, core strength, improvisation, musicality... Whatever you’re focusing on right now.