The Dance Physio Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

One of the questions I commonly get asked from dance teachers and other physiotherapists is what options there are for continuing education when it comes to learning more about dance medicine and science.

In this episode, I highlight some of my favourite resources for both paid and free courses, workshops, online resources and more. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have favourites I've missed, send me a message and let me know and I'll do an update episode in a few months time.

Resources discussed in this episode:
1. Allegro Performance Dance Teacher Resources
2. International Association for Dance Medicine and Science
3. Healthy Dancer Canada
4. Harkness Center for Dance Injuries
5. The Ballet Blog
6. Dance Medicine Education Initiative

Episode 30: Regulation in the Dance Industry

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]

In this episode, I'm joined by Ellen Waller from Target Training Dance. Ellen and I first met at an IADMS conference in 2019 and immediately hit it off. We have a similar interest and fascination with how the body works, and have applied this curiosity to careers in dance science. In this episode we discuss Ellen's journey in Irish Dance, how Target Training came to be and how strength and conditioning benefits Irish Dancers. We also dive into flexibility training, and how the Flexibility Foundations program has helped Ellen re-vamp her flexibility training program to get even better results for her Irish Dancers.

Ellen Waller

Ellen is a long time competitive and professional Irish dancer and instructor and has dedicated her life to Irish dance.  Her talent as a dancer has lead her to perform for thousands across the world and her passion as an Irish dance instructor has influenced innumerable young dancers.

As a young dancer, Ellen recognized the unique physical and mental challenges encountered by elite dancers and athletes.  Determined to learn more about supporting young dancers and athletes, she returned to school to complete her Masters of Science in Exercise Science. 

Coupling her in-depth experience as an Irish dancer/instructor with her expansive knowledge of kinesiology, Ellen developed the innovative Target Training program; a series of courses and training methods that condition the specific muscles Irish dancers need to:

• optimize performance
• improve technique
• reduce the risk of injuries
• overcome physical and mental challenges
• perform and compete at an elite level

You can connect with Ellen:
On Instagram @targettrainingdance
On her website targettrainingdance.com


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]

Ever wondered what the difference between a sprain and a strain is? And which one is a more severe injury? In this episode I discuss the difference between sprains, strains and all the -itis injuries in dance. Knowing how dance injuries are classified can help dancers understand the nature of their injury, as well as facilitate communication with teachers and healthcare teams.

TEACHERS! Check out the new FREE 3 Cues for Teachers to Ditch in Dance guide.

Episode 20: Ankle Sprains 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]

In this episode, I'm joined by one of my long time teachers and mentors, Astrid Sherman. We discuss the pros and cons to implementing a syllabus system for dance training, as well as some of the commonalities and differences with different syllabus around the world.

Astrid Sherman is currently the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) International Representative for the Americas’ and guest teaching between Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Spain. After dancing professionally with the Natal Performing Arts Council in South Africa, she immigrated to Canada. There she was artistic director of a large ISTD-based professional training school in Vancouver for 16 years, with many graduates being accepted into companies and prestigious post-graduate programs internationally. She has a Fellowship teaching qualification from the ISTD in Imperial Classical Ballet. Her BSc focused in Kinesiology and Gerontology from SFU in Canada and her MA in Dance Pedagogy was from Middlesex University in the UK.  She is on the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) Dance Educators’ Committee where she is very much involved in organizing Regional and Outreach Virtual Dance Science events. Astrid has presented dance research at many IADMS & Healthy Dancer Canada conferences and has published in the Journal Dance Medicine & Science. She also acts as the Dancer Wellness Advisor for Ballet Beyond Borders.

You can also connect with Astrid Sherman at:
Website: https://astridshermancatchingart.com/
Email: [email protected]


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]

When we think of rest, we typically just think of physical rest. But that's just one of 7 different types of rest - as described by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. In this episode, I outline the 7 different types of rest we should consider, and how we can incorporate them not just into post season, but throughout the dance season as well.

Episode 6: Periodization in Dance

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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]

I continue to hear stories of dancers being penalized for being injured by being pulled from dances or not being allowed to perform. In this episode, I dive into why I think dance is one of the greatest activities to modify in terms of rehabilitation, and how we as a dance culture can accommodate these modifications to ensure our dancers stay safe while continuing to be able to participate in the activity they love.

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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]

With the end of the dance year fast approaching, it's time to consider what the off season is going to look like for you or your dancers. In this episode, I cover what an ideal post season and off season should and could look like. I dive into what the goals of the off season really are and how you can use the off season to set yourself up for success for the coming dance year.

Episode 6: Periodization in Dance

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]

In most parts of the world, the dance industry is unregulated. In this episode, I dive into what that actually means, the difference between regulation and certification/qualification, and why I think regulation is the next necessary step to protect 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]

Patellar (kneecap) dislocations and subluxations are a common knee injury in dancers. In this episode, I discuss how and why these injuries happen, as well as some prevention strategies. You'll also learn what treatment and management of these injuries looks like for a dancer.

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]

Adolescent dancers are not just small adults, and there are certain injuries that need to be taken into consideration for this specific population. Growth plate injuries are common in athletic adolescent populations, and dancers are no different. In this episode I explain the anatomy of what a growth plate actually is, and discuss some of the common growth plate injuries that we see in dancers.

Episode 15: Adolescent Growth Spurt in Dancers
Episode 25: Stress Fractures 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]