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American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
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Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance


Issue: May/June 2009

Wellness Education for Dancers: A 15-Year Retrospective
Marita K. Cardinal

Abstract: The health and well-being of dancers is a critical but often neglected issue. Dancers face the pressure of extreme physical and emotional demands and lean body weight, which can result in musculoskeletal injuries, disordered eating behaviors, endangered health, and diminished artistic performance. Unfortunately, many do not receive adequate training to assist them in developing healthy life behaviors or the ability to deal appropriately with compelling pressures to conform to artificial standards. This article describes current wellness issues of dance students and includes an example for a Wellness for Dancers course, an historical review of developments in the fields of dance medicine and science, an analysis of the current status of dance wellness education in higher education dance programs, and recommendations for future improvements to enhance dancers' health and well-being.

Article category: NDA Scholar/Artist Lecture