BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 75 Does ballet really ruin your feet for life? In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, we break down the research on ballet foot injuries, pointe shoe biomechanics, bunions in dancers, and long-term foot health. We take a deep dive into the physical demands of ballet, how pointe work affects…
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,…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 62 Is it “normal” for ballet dancers to lose their periods? A new 2025 study of elite dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet found that 71% had experienced at least one menstrual cycle disorder during their careers. In this episode, we break down the research, discuss what these findings mean for…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 56 Have you ever wondered what is actually happening inside a pointe shoe? In this episode, I sit down with Christine Fernandez and Kaitlyn Kumar, engineering students from Johns Hopkins University and co-founders of PointeSense, a wearable technology designed to provide real-time feedback during pointe work. Using pressure sensors and motion…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 54 Can dance improve mental and physical health during menopause? In this episode, we explore research examining the effects of dance interventions on perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women. Researchers analyzed multiple studies involving dance styles such as Zumba, jazz dance, traditional cultural dances, sports dance, and dance movement therapy. Whether you’re…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 49 What if one of the biggest predictors of injury in ballet isn’t weak ankles or poor technique… but your brain? In this episode, we dive into the science of mental fatigue in ballet dancers and how it impacts performance, learning, and injury risk. Based on recent research on professional ballet…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 46 What if dance could do more than build technique… what if it could change how we connect with others? In this episode, we break down scientific research examining how dance impacts individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We explore: Research citation: Chen, T., Wen, R., Liu, H., Zhong, X., &…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 45 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…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 44 What if dance could actually change your brain? Not just how you feel… but how your brain functions over time. In this episode, 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…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 38 What if the way you walk down the street could reveal whether you trained in ballet? Learn how ballet training influences walking biomechanics across the lifespan. In this research study, I compared the overground walking biomechanics of four groups: young professional ballet dancers, young non-dancers, older recreational ballet dancers, and…
