Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., is a former professional ballerina and ballet instructor turned biomechanics and dance-science specialist. She is also the host of the Ballet Science Podcast, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
What if dance could do more than build technique… what if it could change how we connect with others? In this video, we break down scientific research examining how dance impacts individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
We explore:
Whether dance improves overall ASD symptoms
The powerful effects on social interaction and communication
Why empathy did not significantly change
The neuroscience behind movement, connection, and learning
What this means for dancers, teachers, clinicians, and families
Learn whether dance actually improves balance in people with Parkinson’s disease and if certain dance styles work better than others. Discover why dance training duration matters, and what these findings mean for real-world fall risk and independence.
I break down one of my own research studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials examining how dance impacts balance in Parkinson’s disease.. and the results might surprise you!
If you’re a dancer, teacher, clinician, or just curious about how movement impacts the body and brain, this video is for you.
What if dance could actually change your brain? Not just how you feel… but how your brain functions over time. In this video, we break down a systematic review and meta-analysis (one of the highest levels of scientific evidence) to answer a powerful question:
Can dance improve cognitive function and help protect against decline as we age?
We’ll cover: 👉 What the research says about memory, attention, and executive function 👉 Why dance may stimulate neuroplasticity 👉 Whether dance is actually better than other forms of exercise 👉 What this means for dancers, adults, and aging populations
This isn’t just “exercise is good for you.” This is measurable, clinical data on how movement impacts the brain.
What actually happens to your feet after a long day of ballet… and can recovery shoes really help? I sit down with Kunal Moudgil, co-founder of Ance Recovery Sneakers, to break down the science behind recovery footwear, and what it means for dancers.
We talk about: 📌 What “recovery” actually means for the body 📌 Why your feet feel so sore after class or rehearsal 📌 The role of compression, acupressure, and alignment 📌 Wide toe boxes, plantar fasciitis, and foot health 📌 Whether recovery shoes are backed by science (yet 👀) 📌 The future of footwear for dancers and athletes
If you’ve ever come home from ballet with aching feet… or wondered how to support your body for longevity, this video is for you!
Recently, a comment circulated online from actor Timothée Chalamet claiming that “no one cares about ballet.”
Whether the remark was serious or joking, it sparked a lot of conversation in the dance world. Instead of debating the comment itself, this video asks a deeper question: Why should people care about ballet?
When you look at ballet through the lenses of art, science, culture, and human movement, it becomes clear that ballet is much more than a niche performance genre. Ballet sits at a fascinating intersection of storytelling, music, athleticism, neuroscience, and human expression.
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, we explore why ballet matters not just to dancers… but to society as a whole.
Topics include:
Ballet as a universal storytelling language
The power of live performance and orchestral music
Ballet as elite human athletic performance
What biomechanics and neuroscience reveal about dance
How ballet training influences balance, coordination, and motor control
Why supporting the arts matters for culture and society
March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month. Can ballet help improve balance and coordination in people with MS?
In this video, former professional ballerina and biomechanics researcher Caroline Simpkins, PhD, explores a fascinating 2018 study investigating how a targeted ballet training program may help reduce ataxia and improve balance in individuals with mild to moderate MS.
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, often impairing coordination, balance, and walking ability. Researchers wanted to explore whether the structured movement patterns of classical ballet could help retrain motor control and improve neurological function.
In this video you’ll learn:
What multiple sclerosis is and how it affects movement
Why dance (and especially ballet) may benefit neurological conditions
How researchers designed a 16-week targeted ballet rehabilitation program
How motion capture technology was used to measure movement changes
The surprising improvements in balance, coordination, and gait smoothness
This research highlights how ballet can be more than an art form… it may also serve as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and neurological training. Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, researcher, or someone interested in the science of movement, this video explores how dance and neuroscience intersect in unexpected ways.
Have you ever left ballet class feeling mentally exhausted… even if it wasn’t the most physically intense class? That’s not random!
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, Dr. Caroline Simpkins (former professional ballerina and PhD in biomechanics) explains the neuroscience behind ballet training and why your brain thrives on it.
We explore:
How the motor cortex initiates movement
The cerebellum’s role in balance
How the basal ganglia automate choreography
Neuroplasticity and motor learning in action
Why ballet is high-level cognitive multitasking
The connection between dance, executive function, and healthy aging
Ballet isn’t just muscle training. It’s neural pathway training. From coordination and rhythm to memory and spatial awareness, ballet challenges multiple brain systems simultaneously, which is exactly why it can feel so mentally demanding.
A commercial airline pilot… and an adult ballet student!
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Captain Christopher Marici to talk about his life in aviation, how he discovered adult ballet, and why he believes ballet is one of the most powerful long-term investments you can make for your body and brain.
We discuss:
✈️ What a pilot’s day-to-day is really like
✈️ The mental load of the job
✈️ What it’s like to be a true beginner as an adult
✈️ Why adult ballet can be a “reset” after high-stress work
What if the way you walk down the street could reveal whether you trained in ballet?
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I break down my published research from the journal Gait & Posture, examining how ballet training influences walking biomechanics across the lifespan.
What makes Orza ballet shoes different from a traditional ballet slipper?
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I’m joined by Seth and Sarah Orza (Pacific Northwest Ballet, New York City Ballet, School of American Ballet). After suffering an injury while dancing with New York City Ballet (NYCB), Seth Orza began adding padding to his ballet shoes to stay onstage. Noticing many dancers doing the same, he asked a simple question: Why hasn’t the ballet slipper evolved?
That question led to the creation of ORZA Pro, a ballet shoe designed with integrated shock absorption and support, built to meet the demands of today’s dancers. What started as a personal solution is now helping dancers move more comfortably from class to rehearsal to performance.
We discuss:
How the Orza brand was born from real injury + performance needs
How their shoe integrates shock-absorbing tech without changing the ballet aesthetic
What testing they’ve done so far (including biomechanics + survey data)
Why ballet footwear has stayed so traditional for so long
Ballet Science Blog 