The Mission of the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health is to maintain the health and safety of professional dancers. Meeting under the auspices of Dance/USA, the Task Force on Dancer Health is composed of dance medicine practitioners who work directly with professional dancers and dance companies. Among these are physical therapists, physicians, trainers, chiropractors, specialists in movement and injury, nutritional experts and mental health specialists. As an arm of Dance/USA, the Taskforce communicates directly with the managers and executive directors of North American dance companies of all types – ballet, modern and contemporary. It is a groundbreaking opportunity to devise strategies for improving the health of professional dancers and to put those strategies into practice.
The first subject explored by the Task Force was nutrition and disordered eating. This led to the release of Guidelines for Professional Dance Companies on Healthy Nutrition that was distributed to companies in the United States and Canada. Rather than a nuts and bolts manual on weight control and the science of nutrition, the Guidelines are a call to arms outlining how professional companies can incorporate nutritional education into the lives of both dancers and staff. In addition, it recommends initial steps in managing nutritional problems once uncovered. This document is available from the Dance/USA website.
The Task Force next addressed the issue of smoking cessation among dancers. The resultant white paper focuses on reasons to quit that may personally appeal to dancers. It also addresses issues that may prevent some dancers from attempting to quit (weight gain, withdrawal symptoms). Once in final form, Dance/USA will distribute the paper to member companies across the country.
Four leading companies employed the Task Force Health Screen and the Associated Protocols as part of the 2006-2007 Pilot Program: Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Each company reported 100% dancer participation. Based on feedback from the pilot companies, the Screen was streamlined. In 2012, there are over 30 companies working in cooperation and using the Task Force Screen to bring better health to their dancers.
The goal of the Task Force Screen is to make preventive health care a routine part of every dance company. The Task Force views this work as an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to the welfare of dancers across the industry. In addition, the use of a standardized preventive health protocol provides the opportunity for cooperation between companies and the sharing of expertise. Lastly, such a cooperative effort among professional companies provides an invaluable body of information on the characteristics and qualities of those who dance for a living. Though a fair body of data has been collected on schools and students of dance, this information has been missing from the field of professional dance. The Task Force Screen is an historic first that benefits everyone who works in the field of dance.
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