About the Task Force

Members of the Task Force on Dancer Health
at the January 2011 meeting

Mission

The mission of the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health is to maintain the health, safety and well being of professional dancers.

What we are: We are a group of health care professionals who are volunteers with a narrow focus on professional dancers/companies in North America. This Task Force was formed at the request of the Council of Managers for Dance/USA and provides annual reports to Dance/USA. Members of the Task Force on Dancer Health are all health care professionals who provide medical services to professional dancers.

What we are not: We are not a dance medicine association, an educational meeting, a board of directors or a research group.

Goals of the Task Force

  • To provide experienced and expert health information and support to professional dance companies regardless of size or budget
  • To decrease time loss to injury with early problem recognition and education
  • To encourage the Annual Post-Hire Health Screen as an industry standard
  • To analyze injury patterns and links
  • To support health and wellness of the individual professional dancer

Officers and Committees

Executive Committee
Co-chair: Nancy Kadel, MD
Co-chair: Heather Southwick, PT
Secretary/Treasurer: Heather Herod Cole, PT

Screening Committee
Chair: Heather Southwick, PT

Pick-up Companies/Freelance Dancers Committee
Chair: Marijeanne Liederbach, PT, ATC

Research Committee
Co-chair: Marijeanne Leiderbach, PT, ATC
Co-chair: Heather Southwick, PT

Injury Surveillance Committee
Co-chair: Gary Galbraith
Co-chair: Laura Cruz, MD

List of Task Force Members

History of the Task Force