Low back pain is common among youth athletes and young dancers, and spondylolysis is the most common identifiable cause of it. In this episode, I break down why dancers are so susceptible to spondylolysis, common causes of it, how it is diagnosed and treatment/management of the condition.

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 25: Stress Fractures in Dancers

Resources from this episode:
Article: Rehabilitation Considerations for Spondylolysis in the Youth Athlete

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
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The 2026 Winter Olympics just concluded in Milano-Cortina, and like many people I was absolutely glued to my TV for the duration of the games. For anyone who has followed me for any length of time, this won't come as a surprise - I am a huge sports fan, and especially love the Olympic Games. 

There are so many parallels between amateur sport (especially the lesser known sports that only really get seen every 4 years at the Olympics) and the dance world. In this episode I highlight 5 incredible stories from the Olympics and the takeaways I think the dance world should be paying attention to.

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 46: Six Lessons Dance Can Learn From the Olympics
Episode 109: Motor Imagery for Injured Dancers

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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Not every dancer dreams of performing, and even the most successful performers have to transition out of performance careers at some point. In the past, many dancers assumed the only way to stay in the dance industry was to go into teaching or coaching. In this episode, we explore alternate career options connected to the dance industry that do not involve performing or teaching. Whether you're interested in healthcare, event management, research, fashion or something entirely different, the skill set learned in dance transfer to so many different professions!

Do you have a unique job within the dance industry? I would love to hear all about it!

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 89: Exploring the Science of Dance with Sarah Kenny

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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If you've been around for any length of time, you know how much I LOVE the Olympics. The recent Milano Cortina Winter Games just concluded, and these games showcased some high profile athletes who were competing while injured (or had to make the difficult decision not to). In this podcast episode, I break down some of the decision making processes that elite level athletes and their teams use when making these decisions, and how they can be applied to the dance world.

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 46: Six Lessons Dance Can Learn From the Olympics

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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Inspired by my recent talk at The Dancewear Association of Canada conference, in this episode I summarize some of the common challenges we see in pointe shoe fitting. 

I have broken down these challenges into 2 main categories: skin/nail health and structural/biomechanical issues. This episode goes through some of the common causes of these issues, both from a shoe fitting perspective and a physical/anatomical perspective.

I also discuss the importance of a collaborative approach to pointe shoe fitting including the dancer, the shoe fitter, the healthcare provider and the dance teacher.

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 4: Pre-Pointe Assessments
Episode 106: Pointe Readiness Assessments for Dancers
Episode 24: Posterior Ankle Impingement

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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This week I'm joined by Caitlin Sloan of The Brainy Ballerina to talk about all things related to auditions. Caitlin shares her approach to helping dancers not just survive, but thrive during audition season. She answers questions such as:

• How far in advance you should be preparing for an audition
• When to consider in-person vs a video audition
• How to approach an audition when dealing with or recovering from an injury

About Caitlin:

Caitlin Sloan, founder & CEO of The Brainy Ballerina, is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI. 

She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri. 

Caitlin danced professionally for nearly a decade with companies including Ballet Tucson and Mareck Dance (formerly Missouri Contemporary Ballet). She has served as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and on faculty of Central Indiana Academy of Dance and the School of Madison Ballet. 

In 2019, Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Through 1-1 career mentorship, workshops and digital resources, her mission is to help dancers gain the skills necessary to build a smart and sustainable career in the dance industry. 

Connect with Caitlin:
The Brainy Ballerina Website
The Brainy Ballerina on Instagram

Resources:
The Ultimate Audition Guide

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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In this episode we dive into chondromalacia and how it affects dancers. You'll learn what exactly chrondromalacia is, how it is graded and what causes it. You'll also learn the most common ways it presents in dancers, and best practice for treatment of it.

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 59: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in Dancers
Episode 86: Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) in Dancers

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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With rates of scoliosis in dancers reported to be as high as 20-30% of dancers, it's no wonder this is a topic that gets a lot of attention within the dance world. As a follow-up to last week's episode (Episode 115: Scoliosis 101 with Andrea Mendoza of The ScoliClinic), in this week's episode I discuss the practicalities of dancing with scoliosis.

You'll learn the difference between a functional and structural scoliosis, the common patterns and asymmetries that teachers may observe and dancers feel in their body, as well as ways that dancers can learn to embrace and manage their scoliosis.

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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This week I'm joined by scoliosis expert and owner of The ScoliClinic Andrea Mendoza. Andrea shares her story and the inspiration behind opening a clinic specific for scoliosis clients and their families. We also touch on:

• what exactly scoliosis is and how it affects the body
• the pathophysiology behind scoliosis and why it happens
• how scoliosis affects dancer populations
• signs to look out for and when to refer to medical professionals
• treatment options for dancers with scoliosis

About Andrea:

Andrea Mendoza is a physiotherapist and business owner based in Vancouver, BC. After noticing the lack of services for teens with scoliosis and their families, Andrea founded The ScoliClinic in 2016. With a growing team and services ranging from 1:1 treatments, group classes, workshops, and a YouTube channel, The ScoliClinic strives to be a Centre of Excellence for scoliosis care, providing high-quality curve-specific physiotherapy and massage therapy to children, teens, and adults in British Columbia. 

Over the past decade, Andrea has learned how to adapt typical business strategy and practice to this highly niche practice. With a drive to learn the 'anatomy of business', Andrea completed the Executive MBA program at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, with training in international markets through the Business in the Americas certificate. Combining this knowledge with her experience in building a specialty practice and an enthusiasm for philosophy, strategy, and leadership, she brings ideas from the conceptual world to material to push healthcare forward in her own business, and supports others to do the same.

In 2023, she was honoured to receive Business in Vancouver's Forty Under 40 Award in recognition of her achievements.

Connect with Andrea:
The ScoliClinic Website
The ScoliClinic on Instagram
The ScoliClinic Connect on YouTube

Resources:
2016 SOSORT Guidelines 
Increased Prevalence of Scoliosis in Female Professional Ballet Performers 2025 article

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

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Have you ever wondered what it's like to work with a dance physiotherapist? Or specifically with me or one of the physiotherapists at Allegro Performance + Wellness? In this podcast episode, I discuss the 5 key pillars of the philosophy that guides my approach to treatment and rehabilitation when working with dancers and other artistic athletes.

Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 1: My Journey as a Dance Physiotherapist
Episode 32: Accommodating Modifications in Dance
Episode 77: The Rehabilitation Continuum

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

Support the show