How can dance teachers train dancers to their highest potential while preventing injury? This episode uncovers the science behind safe, powerful, and sustainable training.

In Episode 15 of It’s All Relative, Cara Dixon welcomes back her teammate and friend Kate Pano, an experienced dance teacher, performer, and licensed Physical Therapy Assistant. Together, they kick off Relative Motion’s new monthly series on injury reduction, where science meets artistry. Cara and Kate discuss how understanding both the physical and psychological factors behind injuries can completely transform how teachers train their dancers. 

This episode, Part 1 of 2, dives into Top Training Without Top Injuries, a groundbreaking course that connects PT research with real studio application, helping teachers identify risk factors and build stronger, safer dancers.

Cara and Kate talked about:

• The importance of injury prevention in dance training and studio education
• Intrinsic risk factors such as flexibility, hypermobility, personality type, and prior injuries
• Extrinsic risk factors like footwear, environment, temperature, and warm-up habits
• Why dancer personality types (go-getters vs. cautious movers) can both lead to injury if not balanced
• How transitional seasons in dance, like shifts from training to performance, are the most common times for injuries to appear

This episode sets the foundation for understanding injury prevention from both a dance and physical therapy lens. But we’re just getting started. Join us in Episode 16 (Part 2) as Cara and Kate continue the conversation, diving deeper into timing, training patterns, and the top indicators that an injury might be coming. They’ll also explore proprioception, practical drills for teachers, and how studios can help dancers build stronger, safer habits year-round.

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Connect with Kate:

Kate’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katepagano324?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F 

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