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Can ballet support recovery after breast cancer? A new qualitative research study explored the experiences of women who participated in a 16-week classical ballet program after breast cancer treatment. Rather than measuring strength or flexibility alone, researchers asked a different question: What was the experience actually like?
In this episode, I break down the study's five major themes, including:
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Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Is it "normal" for ballet dancers to lose their periods? A new 2025 study of elite dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet found that 71% had experienced at least one menstrual cycle disorder during their careers. In this episode, we break down the research, discuss what these findings mean for dancers, and explain why menstrual health is about much more than fertility.
If you're a ballet dancer, dance teacher, parent, healthcare provider, or simply interested in dance medicine, this episode will help you better understand one of the most important indicators of dancer health.
Join Ballet Science Backstage on Patreon for ad-free access to podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
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Connect With Ballet Science:
Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Professional ballet dancers perform incredible athletic feats every day... but what happens when a head injury threatens their career?
In this episode, I sit down with Courtney Shealy, a professional dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), to discuss her journey from a young dancer in Florida to one of the world's premier ballet companies.
Courtney also shares her recent experience recovering from a concussion, explaining how the injury happened, the symptoms she initially brushed off, and the testing process that led to her diagnosis. She discusses the specialized physical therapy that helped her safely return to rehearsals and performances, and why she believes greater concussion awareness is needed throughout the ballet world to help dancers recognize symptoms and prioritize their long-term health.
Whether you're a dancer, teacher, parent, or healthcare professional, this conversation offers valuable insight into recognizing concussions and prioritizing long-term health.
Join Ballet Science Backstage on Patreon for ad-free access to podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
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Connect With Ballet Science:
Connect with Courtney Shealy:
Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Should male ballet dancers lift weights? Strength training has become increasingly common in the ballet world, but many dancers still worry that lifting weights will make them bulky, reduce flexibility, or negatively affect their technique.
In this Ballet Science Encore episode, I'm revisiting one of the most valuable conversations from the Ballet Science archives with former professional ballet dancer and strength coach Shane Wuerthner.
Shane danced with the Vienna State Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and Queensland Ballet before transitioning into strength and conditioning, where he now helps dancers train smarter and stay healthier.
Whether you're a male ballet student, professional dancer, teacher, or parent, this episode offers practical advice backed by experience and science.
Ballet Science Encore: Every so often, I revisit one of the most informative conversations from the Ballet Science archives. These Encore episodes feature timeless advice that remains just as relevant today, often in a shorter, curated highlights format.
Go behind the scenes with Ballet Science Backstage! Join me on Patreon for ad-free access to Ballet Science podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
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Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Professional ballet careers are incredibly rewarding... but they are also short. What happens when the curtain finally closes?
In this episode, I sit down with Aurora Dickie, soloist with Staatsballett Berlin and graduate student in dance science, to discuss one of the most important (and often overlooked) topics in ballet: preparing for life after a performing career.
Aurora shares her journey from Brazil to Washington Ballet and Staatsballett Berlin, explains how she balances a demanding professional schedule while earning a master's degree, and discusses her fascinating research on retirement transition in professional dancers.
Whether you're a dancer, teacher, parent, healthcare professional, or simply interested in dance science, this conversation offers valuable insights into building a healthier and more sustainable ballet career.
Go behind the scenes with Ballet Science Backstage! Join me on Patreon for ad-free access to Ballet Science podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
Want Ballet Science updates sent to your inbox? Join My E-mail List
Connect With Ballet Science:
Connect with Aurora Dickie:
Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Can being too flexible actually increase your risk of injury?
Many dancers are praised for their flexibility, but hypermobility isn't always an advantage. In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Linda Bluestein, physician, former ballet dancer, and internationally recognized expert in hypermobility disorders, to discuss what every dancer, teacher, and parent should know about hypermobility and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).
Whether you're a professional dancer, pre-professional student, adult ballet dancer, teacher, healthcare provider, or parent, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed advice for training smarter and dancing longer.
Go behind the scenes with Ballet Science Backstage! Join me on Patreon for ad-free access to Ballet Science podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
Want Ballet Science updates sent to your inbox? Join My E-mail List
Connect With Ballet Science:
Connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein:
Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Kathryn Morgan is one of the most recognizable names in ballet education, but behind her successful career lies a story of resilience, advocacy, and overcoming a life-changing health diagnosis.
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, Kathryn shares her journey from New York City Ballet to becoming one of the world's leading online ballet educators. We discuss how thyroid disease affected her professional career, body image, and identity as a dancer, along with the lessons she has learned about self-advocacy, sustainable training, perfectionism, and finding purpose beyond ballet.
As someone who also experienced thyroid cancer during my own ballet career, this conversation became especially meaningful as we reflected on how thyroid-related conditions can affect dancers in ways that are often overlooked.
Whether you're a dancer, teacher, parent, or healthcare professional, this episode offers valuable insights into dancer health, resilience, and building a long-term relationship with ballet.
Go behind the scenes with Ballet Science Backstage! Join me on Patreon for ad-free access to Ballet Science podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
Want Ballet Science updates sent to your inbox? Join My E-mail List
Connect With Ballet Science:
Connect with Kathryn Morgan:
Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.
Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Have you ever wondered what is actually happening inside a pointe shoe?
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I sit down with Christine Fernandez and Kaitlyn Kumar, co-founders of PointeSense, a wearable technology designed to provide real-time feedback during pointe work.
Using pressure sensors and motion tracking technology, PointeSense aims to help dancers, teachers, fitters, and healthcare professionals better understand pointe technique, alignment, shoe fit, and potential injury risks.
Whether you're a ballet dancer, teacher, pointe shoe fitter, dance medicine professional, or simply curious about the future of dance technology, this is a fascinating conversation you won't want to miss.
Go behind the scenes with Ballet Science Backstage! Join me on Patreon for ad-free access to Ballet Science podcast episodes, educational videos, workouts, stretching content, digital downloads, and more... all in one place. Join Now!
Want Ballet Science updates sent to your inbox? Join My E-mail List
Connect With Ballet Science:
Connect with PointeSense
Ballet Science is hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., former professional ballerina and biomechanics researcher. The podcast explores injury prevention, biomechanics, nutrition, mindset, and the science behind dance performance.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.
Can hypermobility help ballet dancers... or increase injury risk? In this episode, we explore the science of hypermobility and its role in ballet training. Learn the difference between flexibility and hypermobility, why hypermobile dancers are often drawn to ballet, how conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) fit into the conversation, and why strength and stability may be even more important than flexibility.
Whether you've been told you're "double-jointed," struggle with hyperextended knees, or simply want to better understand how hypermobility affects ballet technique and injury prevention, this video is for you.
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Watch This Video On YouTube
Connect With Ballet Science:
Ballet Science is hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., former professional ballerina and biomechanics researcher. The podcast explores injury prevention, biomechanics, nutrition, mindset, and the science behind dance performance.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical concerns, injuries, or suspected connective tissue disorders.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
Can dance improve mental and physical health during menopause? In this episode, we explore a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effects of dance interventions on perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women.
Researchers analyzed multiple studies involving dance styles such as Zumba, jazz dance, traditional cultural dances, sports dance, and dance movement therapy. The results suggest that dance may significantly improve depression, anxiety, vitality, social functioning, quality of life, and several physical health outcomes.
We discuss the science behind these findings, potential mechanisms, practical takeaways, and important limitations of the research. Whether you're a dancer, healthcare professional, teacher, student, or simply interested in healthy aging, this episode highlights how movement and dance may support well-being throughout life.
Research publication:
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Connect With Ballet Science:
Ballet Science is hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., former professional ballerina and biomechanics researcher. The podcast explores injury prevention, biomechanics, nutrition, mindset, and the science behind dance performance.
Medical Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Every individual's health situation is unique. If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms, please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding treatment options. This discussion is not intended to discourage hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other medical treatments. Rather, it explores current research on dance as a potential complementary, non-pharmacological strategy that may support health and well-being during the menopausal transition.
Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
Logo photo: Richard Calmes
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