The Dance Up!

Dr. James D. Walters, and Associate Professor Danielle Lydia Sheather Jenna Kellogg explore how music therapy and adaptive dance do far more than entertain — they help with communication, regulation, memory, and quality of life in ways traditional care often misses.

Jenna Kellogg, board certified music therapist and adaptive dance educator, shares how she uses movement and music to help children and adults with complex needs, developmental disabilities, and medically fragile conditions access expression, connection, and healing. Alongside Dr. James D. Walters and Associate Professor Danielle Lydia Sheather, the conversation gets real about what these therapies actually do — and why they deserve a seat at the healthcare table.

You’ll discover how Jenna builds person-centered adapted dance classes, why rhythm and melody can unlock recall in people living with neurodegenerative challenges, and what music therapy looks like in practice across ages two to eighties. She breaks down the difference between “singing to make people feel better” and evidence-based therapy, and explains how tools like DIR floor time, trauma-informed care, and co-treatment with speech, OT, and PT expand what is possible for clients.

The episode also digs into the power of advocacy — for patients, caregivers, and practitioners — and the frustration of a system that still too often dismisses the arts as optional instead of essential. Jenna shares what it took to find her path, how mentors shaped her career, and why so many students never realize that performance can lead to therapy, not just the stage.

If you care about healthcare, the arts, or helping people communicate in ways words alone can’t, this one is for you. Essential listening for therapists, educators, caregivers, dancers, musicians, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how creative practice can transform care.

Jenna Kellogg is a board certified music therapist and adaptive dance educator based in Rochester, New York, working with individuals across the lifespan in community and clinical settings. Dr. James D. Walters is a chiropractor and host of The Dance Up, and Danielle Lydia Sheather is an Associate Professor of Dance, both focused on cultural competency between dance and healthcare.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman @tamawhat , Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors’ and guests’ views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Carbs have been demonized in dance for decades, and it’s costing dancers energy, recovery, and longevity. Registered sports dietitian and dance nutrition specialist Lisa Rivera explains why fueling is not just about “eating more” - it’s about giving your body the right energy at the right time so you can perform, recover, and stay healthy.

Host Dr. James D. Walters and co-host Danielle Lydia Sheather unpack the cultural myths that still shape dance training, from “good” and “bad” foods to the dangerous idea that missing a cycle is a sign of success. Lisa shares the exact mindset shift she uses with dancers: move from appearance-based thinking to performance-based fueling, and stop treating food like the enemy. You’ll discover:

• Why dancers need more carbohydrates than they’ve been taught to believe
• How “intuitive fueling” blends body awareness with a real fueling plan
• What RED-S and RED-D mean for dancers, and why underfueling is often missed
• How to spot when food tracking is becoming harmful
• Why full-fat dairy, bagels, and even treats can absolutely fit in a dancer’s plan

Lisa also explains how she uses ranges, serving sizes, and personalized education instead of one-size-fits-all numbers, because a dancer’s needs change with rehearsal load, injury status, season, and training demands. The conversation also tackles a bigger problem: too many dancers are still getting medical advice from professionals who don’t understand dance as an athletic discipline.

If you work with dancers, teach dancers, parent a dancer, or are a dancer yourself, this episode is essential listening. It’s a practical, eye-opening case for building a true care team around dancers and making nutrition part of the conversation before fatigue, stress injuries, or burnout force it to be.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman @tamawhat , Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors’ and guests’ views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Jeanne Fornarola as they discuss how ballet shapes a life, a career, and a body in ways most people never see. From the strict, formative world of Mercyhurst to decades of teaching, injury recovery, and the evolution of dance education, they unpack what dancers actually need to thrive: better training, smarter prevention, honest conversations about pain, and a more humane view of discipline.

You’ll discover why dance history is really world history, how one teacher’s words can change a student’s entire trajectory, and why the old “push through it” mindset still shows up in studios today. Jean also reflects on the programs, people, and practices that helped shape her as both an artist and educator - from oral traditions in the classroom to the importance of Pilates, allied health support, and having room to be a lifelong student.

This episode is for dancers, educators, healthcare providers, and parents who want a clearer picture of what it takes to support artists beyond the studio. If you care about longevity, wellness, and preparing dancers for a real future, this conversation will give you both perspective and practical insight.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman @tamawhat , Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors’ and guests’ views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Tripp Hansen as they discuss their personal stories on teaching and learning, Tripps Broadway and Acupuncturist journey, and how we hope to integrate the energetic, mind body connection, in how we carry ourselves in the world.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Jordan Brownlee as they discuss the demands and excitement of puppetry. The toll it takes on the body and the sheer love of the art form. Hear how Jordan began his performance career and how the art of puppetry is inherently linked to acting. Listen to Jordan shares the differences of puppeteering for the camera and for the stage.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Erica Hornthal as they discuss the ins and outs of Dance Movement Therapy and the various challenges towards licensure. Listen how they unpack the removal of recess and dance in schools and how bringing back these simple yet crucial activities are vital to a child's development especially as it relates to conflict.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. of Chiropractic James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guests Alexandra Bradshaw-Yerby & Adele Nickel. In this episode we discuss their individual and collective experiences in dance in addition to how they got into writing about dance. Hear some of their takeaways from their most recent co-authored article , "Safety, Social Connection, and Learning: A Polyvagal Theory Framework for Dance Education."

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather as they wrap up their 3 year of podcasting and creating content to help bridge the gap between health care and dance for better communication and care. The Dance Up! has been focused on education strategies that include building their compassion and understanding. James and Danielle want to challenge the oversimplification of myths that surround dancers by inviting healthcare providers and dance educators to listen more deeply to the diversity of lived dance experiences that exist in their spheres and beyond.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guest Taylor Goldberg - The Hyper-mobile Chiropractor. Listen as we discuss the various ways in which hyper-mobility manifests in dancers and how we can do better as a community to avoid iatrogenic diagnoses and nocebic language. We might all be trying to do the right thing, but in actuality we may be harming the very population we hope to serve. Consider how we can leverage support and care for our dancers through care teams.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.

Join Dr. James D Walters and Associate Professor of Dance Danielle Lydia Sheather with guests William Gentes and Susannah Dwyer Co-Owners of Classical Ballet of Western NY. Listen as we discuss William and Susannah's entry into the dance world and how their love of teaching grew to create both a company and training program for young dancers. Their pedagogy is steeped in respecting each other, the profession and trusting their dancers and their needs.

Musical contributions by Alexandra Ausman, Graphic Design by Dr. Kelsey Elliot. Views expressed in this podcast solely reflect the authors' and guests' views and not any organization to which an affiliation might be present.