Can Ballet Help After Breast Cancer? | What the Science Says

BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 63

Can ballet support recovery after breast cancer?

A new qualitative research study explored the experiences of women who participated in a 16-week classical ballet program after breast cancer treatment. Rather than measuring strength or flexibility alone, researchers asked a different question: What was the experience actually like?

In this episode, I break down the study’s five major themes, including:

• How ballet helped participants feel “normal” again
• The importance of community and shared experiences
• Why a supportive instructor mattered so much
• The physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits participants described
• Why researchers recommend hybrid ballet programs in the future

Research citation: Macdonald, E. R., Signorelli, C., Clifford, B. K., Simar, D., & Ward, R. E. (2024). Ballet after breast cancer: a qualitative evaluation of a novel 16-week ballet intervention for women after breast cancer. JSAMS plus, 4, 100076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsampl.2024.100076