BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 71 What happens when ballet becomes part of cancer recovery? In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I’m joined by Anna Wassman-Cox, a former professional ballet dancer, two-time breast cancer survivor, and founder of Onco-Ballet. Anna shares her deeply personal experience of returning to the ballet barre during cancer treatment……
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 70 What happens when a cancer diagnosis changes the body you’ve spent your entire life training? In this episode, I sit down with former professional ballet dancer Abigail Simon to talk about her experience being diagnosed with breast cancer after a career that included American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey, and Broadway. Abigail…
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 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 50 Why are ballet dancers so flexible? Is it genetics… or training? In this episode, we break down the real science behind flexibility. Learn how dancers develop incredible range of motion, why the nervous system plays such a major role in stretching, and how strength and flexibility work together in 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 42 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 SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 40 Did you know that every ballet class is a full-body ballet workout that also trains your heart? We dive into the cardiovascular physiology of ballet, explaining how this elegant art form serves as a powerful cardio workout. Discover why ballet deserves recognition as a serious training modality and how it…
