Keeping our dancers free from injury is the key to helping them enjoy a lifetime of dance. By enlisting the help of faculty and parents your students can be kept healthy and remain clients of yours for years.
It is really important to establish, from the beginning with your teachers that they make it clear to their students at the start of any semester that they should always let them know if they become injured in class or if they feel a bad pain somewhere in their bodies. It is also important that the student notifies the teacher before class starts if they have been injured at home or in school. Some dancers feel pressured by themselves or others not to disclose their pain or injury to their teacher for one reason or another and they need to understand the importance of getting help and seeing the right doctor when they become injured. It is almost unrealistic to think that a dancer, especially one that takes numerous classes a week, will never receive an injury – some students are obviously more susceptible than others – depending on their body type and conditioning.
Some years ago, I established a great working relationship with an orthopedic doctor in our area and I always recommend my students to him when they get injured and when they need to be checked to go on pointe. Not only do I know that he will give them excellent care but I also know that he will call me to let me know exactly how the dancer is injured and what needs to be done for it. We work together as a team and I am then able to help the dancer strengthen and rehabilitate the area in a safe and thorough way. Your teachers also need to be aware of this information so that they can help them, once they return to class to get back in the swing of things. Parents also need to become part of the injury prevention and recovery team. They can help by making sure that the dancer goes to physical therapy and continues to do the prescribed exercises at home and that they are receiving the best nutrition to help their body recuperate to perfect condition. Parents also need to understand that it is unwise and unhealthy to push their child to a level in dance that they are not ready for physically or mentally. So often dancers become injured because they are attempting to work at a level that is too advanced for the development of their bodies and mind and it becomes unsafe when they do not have the strength to support the technique. Each student is different; they grow at different paces and at different ages so this means that a class that is right for one child may not be the correct level for another of the same age. As I always say to my parents, 'What's the hurry?' Why push a child forward before they are ready to be there? That can only cause distress, lack of confidence and possible injury. It is difficult sometimes not to bow to both peer and parent pressure but as the studio owner it will be much more beneficial in the long run if you hold your ground. As always it is a trust factor that is involved, parents and students trusting your knowledge as a professional.
When putting a dancer on pointe these issues become even more important as if the wrong decision is made there can be serious physical repercussions not only at the moment but also much further down the road when the student suddenly starts suffering foot problems when she is in her 20's. Not only is strength important but also a certain level of maturity should be the measure of when to put a dancer on pointe. Age can vary depending on the child but generally speaking it is not a good idea to put a student on pointe before they are 12. There are exceptions to every rule but again, 'What's the rush?'
The key for your studio is to keep your dancers healthy and with you for a long time. Bringing the parents onto the team to help prevent injuries, become more aware and assist with the necessary rehabilitation can only be a plus. Getting your faculty in line to keep the students healthy will also help your studio and help them to be better teachers. At the end of the day safety for the student is the most important factor and of course learning in a fun environment!
