Blisters are often treated like a rite of passage in ballet… but from a biomechanics perspective, they’re actually important feedback about how your foot is interacting with your shoe. If you’ve ever tried to dance with a painful blister, you know how much it can affect balance, confidence, and technique. Instead of just “toughing it…

In 2025, I released 31 episodes of the Ballet Science Podcast covering anatomy, biomechanics, injury prevention, performance psychology, strength training, and research on ballet across the lifespan. In this year-in-review episode, I connect the dots among interviews, anatomy deep dives, and research discussions to show how they fit together. Think of this episode as a…

A herniated disc can sound terrifying for dancers, but it is not a career-ender. In this final episode of the Ballet Science spine series, Dr. Caroline Simpkins (former professional ballerina, PhD in biomechanics) breaks down what a herniated disc actually is, why it often develops gradually rather than from one dramatic movement, and (most importantly)…

I went from spending my days in a ballet studio to a biomechanics lab. While those worlds may seem completely different, getting a PhD taught me some surprising lessons… not just about science, but about my body, learning, failure, and performance. In this video, I share five things I learned from getting a PhD as…

Your spine doesn’t move on its own. An entire team of muscles, tendons, and ligaments makes ballet possible, and most dancers are only using half of them. In Part 2 of the Ballet Science spine series, Dr. Caroline Simpkins (former professional ballerina, PhD in biomechanics) breaks down how the spinal support system actually works in…

When I tell people that I went to college while dancing professionally as a ballerina, the reaction is almost always the same: How did you make that work? In this video, I break down the five strategies that enabled me to balance school with a professional ballet career, including what my daily schedule looked like,…

Your spine isn’t meant to be stiff, straight, or locked in place. It’s designed to move, absorb load, and adapt, and understanding its natural curves can instantly change your ballet technique. In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, former professional ballerina and biomechanics Ph.D. Caroline Simpkins breaks down the bones of the spine and…

Our research found that older adults who take ballet recreationally tend to be stronger, more powerful, and more balanced than non-dancers. These abilities… leg strength, power, balance, and coordination… are major components of fall prevention. But why might ballet make such a difference? In this episode, we break down why ballet may support healthier aging…

There’s growing interest in how ballet can support healthy aging, but surprisingly little research has focused on independent, healthy older adults who choose to take ballet classes on their own. While previous studies have shown improvements in balance, strength, and gait in adults aged 50+, many have lacked comparison groups or were based on virtual…

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults worldwide. As our population ages, finding effective, sustainable ways to improve balance, mobility, and overall physical function has never been more important. While walking programs, strength training, and traditional balance classes can help reduce fall risk, many older adults struggle to stay consistent. So what…