DANCERS, companies and teachers have shown tremendous resilience, ingenuity and adaptability throughout the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. It will continue to be a challenge as we all adapt to the new normal. These notes are some general considerations as we return to dance – from time off due to COVID lockdown, injury or other reasons – considering a dancer’s wellbeing in physical, mental and social domains.
We acknowledge that, for illustrative purposes, many examples are based on ballet, however the same principles around safe loading, recovery, mental and social health and wellbeing are broadly applicable. Please take what is useful to your situation with your unique expertise and situation.
One of the challenges in returning to activity after a period off is managing enthusiasm and excitement at returning to dance. Some dancers may not have danced at all, and even if dancers were doing some exercises at home, it’s unlikely that they were able to put the same loads through
