Your spine isn’t meant to be stiff, straight, or locked in place. It’s designed to move, absorb load, and adapt, and understanding its natural curves can instantly change your ballet technique.

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, former professional ballerina and biomechanics Ph.D. Caroline Simpkins breaks down the bones of the spine and explains how each region... the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine... supports the technical demands of ballet.

We’ll explore:

• Why the spine’s natural curves improve posture

• How vertebrae shape balance, turnout, arabesque height, and port de bras

• Common movement compensations dancers make (and how to fix them)

• What dancers need to know about thoracic mobility and lumbar control

• Why a “straight spine” cue can actually harm your technique

Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, or movement professional, this episode will help you understand how spinal structure influences alignment, artistry, and injury prevention.

If you enjoy learning how science connects to dance, be sure to like, subscribe, and follow for weekly episodes. It helps Ballet Science reach more dancers and educators who want evidence-based insights to support technique, longevity, and performance.

Watch the Video on YouTube⁠

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