Ballet Science

Should male ballet dancers lift weights? Strength training has become increasingly common in the ballet world, but many dancers still worry that lifting weights will make them bulky, reduce flexibility, or negatively affect their technique.

In this Ballet Science Encore episode, I'm revisiting one of the most valuable conversations from the Ballet Science archives with former professional ballet dancer and strength coach Shane Wuerthner.

Shane danced with the Vienna State Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and Queensland Ballet before transitioning into strength and conditioning, where he now helps dancers train smarter and stay healthier.

Whether you're a male ballet student, professional dancer, teacher, or parent, this episode offers practical advice backed by experience and science.

Ballet Science Encore: Every so often, I revisit one of the most informative conversations from the Ballet Science archives. These Encore episodes feature timeless advice that remains just as relevant today, often in a shorter, curated highlights format.

Watch or listen to the full-length original interview here.

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Want to go deeper into the science of ballet? Subscribe to Ballet Science Backstage for bonus Ballet Science content including exclusive episodes, early access, and more. Your support helps keep evidence-based dance education accessible for dancers, teachers, and movement lovers everywhere.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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E-mail: caroline@ballet.science

Connect with Shane Wuerthner:
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Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

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Logo photo: Richard Calmes

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.

Professional ballet careers are incredibly rewarding... but they are also short. What happens when the curtain finally closes?

In this episode, I sit down with Aurora Dickie, soloist with Staatsballett Berlin and graduate student in dance science, to discuss one of the most important (and often overlooked) topics in ballet: preparing for life after a performing career.

Aurora shares her journey from Brazil to Washington Ballet and Staatsballett Berlin, explains how she balances a demanding professional schedule while earning a master's degree, and discusses her fascinating research on retirement transition in professional dancers.

Whether you're a dancer, teacher, parent, healthcare professional, or simply interested in dance science, this conversation offers valuable insights into building a healthier and more sustainable ballet career.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Ballet Science E-mail List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Want to go deeper into the science of ballet? Subscribe to Ballet Science Backstage for bonus Ballet Science content including exclusive episodes, early access, and more. Your support helps keep evidence-based dance education accessible for dancers, teachers, and movement lovers everywhere.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect With Ballet Science:
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E-mail: caroline@ballet.science

Connect with Aurora Dickie:
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Logo photo: Richard Calmes

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.

Can being too flexible actually increase your risk of injury?

Many dancers are praised for their flexibility, but hypermobility isn't always an advantage. In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Linda Bluestein, physician, former ballet dancer, and internationally recognized expert in hypermobility disorders, to discuss what every dancer, teacher, and parent should know about hypermobility and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).

Whether you're a professional dancer, pre-professional student, adult ballet dancer, teacher, healthcare provider, or parent, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed advice for training smarter and dancing longer.

Kathryn Morgan is one of the most recognizable names in ballet education, but behind her successful career lies a story of resilience, advocacy, and overcoming a life-changing health diagnosis.

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, Kathryn shares her journey from New York City Ballet to becoming one of the world's leading online ballet educators. We discuss how thyroid disease affected her professional career, body image, and identity as a dancer, along with the lessons she has learned about self-advocacy, sustainable training, perfectionism, and finding purpose beyond ballet.

As someone who also experienced thyroid cancer during my own ballet career, this conversation became especially meaningful as we reflected on how thyroid-related conditions can affect dancers in ways that are often overlooked.

Whether you're a dancer, teacher, parent, or healthcare professional, this episode offers valuable insights into dancer health, resilience, and building a long-term relationship with ballet.

⁠⁠⁠Join the Ballet Science E-mail List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch This Video On YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to go deeper into the science of ballet? Subscribe to Ballet Science Backstage for bonus Ballet Science content including exclusive episodes, early access, and more. Your support helps keep evidence-based dance education accessible for dancers, teachers, and movement lovers everywhere.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect With Ballet Science:
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E-mail: caroline@ballet.science

Connect with Kathryn Morgan:
⁠Website⁠
⁠YouTube⁠
⁠Instagram⁠

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Microphone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Logo photo: Richard Calmes

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.

Have you ever wondered what is actually happening inside a pointe shoe?

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I sit down with Christine Fernandez and Kaitlyn Kumar, co-founders of PointeSense, a wearable technology designed to provide real-time feedback during pointe work.

Using pressure sensors and motion tracking technology, PointeSense aims to help dancers, teachers, fitters, and healthcare professionals better understand pointe technique, alignment, shoe fit, and potential injury risks.

Whether you're a ballet dancer, teacher, pointe shoe fitter, dance medicine professional, or simply curious about the future of dance technology, this is a fascinating conversation you won't want to miss.

⁠⁠⁠Join the Ballet Science E-mail List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch This Video On YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to go deeper into the science of ballet? Subscribe to Ballet Science Backstage for bonus Ballet Science content including exclusive episodes, early access, and more. Your support helps keep evidence-based dance education accessible for dancers, teachers, and movement lovers everywhere.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect With Ballet Science:
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E-mail: caroline@ballet.science

Connect with PointeSense
⁠Website⁠
⁠Instagram⁠

Ballet Science is hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., former professional ballerina and biomechanics researcher. The podcast explores injury prevention, biomechanics, nutrition, mindset, and the science behind dance performance.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Logo photo: Richard Calmes

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds are reinvested back into Ballet Science.