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 55 Can hypermobility help ballet dancers… or increase injury risk? In this episode, we explore the science of hypermobility and its role in ballet training. Learn the difference between flexibility and hypermobility, why hypermobile dancers are often drawn to ballet, how conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) fit into the conversation,…
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 53 Why do ballerinas destroy brand new pointe shoes before dancing in them? In this episode, we explore the fascinating science, biomechanics, and artistry behind breaking in pointe shoes. From bending the shank and crushing the box to darning, rosin, jet glue, and sewing ribbons with dental floss, professional ballet dancers…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 52 What is it really like to train at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world? In this episode, I sit down with Joy Womack (the first American woman to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy) to discuss the realities of elite ballet training, injury, mental health, body…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 51 Have you ever watched a ballet dancer perform a flawless pirouette and wondered how it’s possible? In this video, we break down the fascinating physics behind ballet turns… from angular momentum and torque to spotting, balance, friction, and fouettés. You’ll learn how dancers use the same physical principles that govern…
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 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 48 Ballet looks effortless… but if you’ve ever tried it, you know that’s far from the truth. So why is ballet so hard… and why is it harder than it looks? In this episode, we break down the science behind ballet technique, including biomechanics, balance, motor control, and strength. From controlling…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 47 How do ballet dancers balance on their toes in pointe shoes? Learn the science and anatomy of pointe work, including ballet biomechanics, pointe shoe mechanics, and how dancers safely balance their center of mass on their toes in ballet technique. If you’ve ever tried standing on your toes, you know…
