Are we rushing dancers too soon and delaying the development that truly matters? 

In Episode 3 of It’s All Relative, Cara Dixon is joined by longtime friend and fellow Relative Motion team member, Kate Pagano, to talk about the physical and developmental cost of rushing dance training. With Kate’s extensive experience in physical therapy and dance education, the two dive deep into what happens when dancers skip fundamentals for the sake of fast results. They discuss the demands of delay, the long-term risks of early technical shortcuts, and how intentional, anatomy-based training builds stronger, more durable dancers who are ready for both professional opportunities and life beyond the studio.

Cara and Kate talked about:

• Why delaying foundational technique leads to long-term setbacks in dance training
• The dangers of pushing young dancers into high-level skills before their bodies are ready
• How poor alignment and muscle memory create injury-prone movement patterns
• The importance of visual tools, creative cueing, and developmentally appropriate feedback
• How physical therapy principles apply directly to sustainable dance training
• Why dancers need long-term planning, not quick wins, for career longevity
• How work ethic and consistent practice matter as much as technical progress
• What rehiring, audition stamina, and injury recovery teach us about real-world dance demands
• Creating a culture of intentional dance training through proper studio structure and teacher awareness
• How building dancers with strong technique and strong discipline prepares them for bigger life goals

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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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