Advisory Board

Dr. Julia Iafrate

DO, CAQSM, FAAPMR

NYU Langone Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Dr. Julia Louisa Iafrate, DO, CAQSM, FAAPMR is a physician who specializes in Sports & Dance Medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. A Canadian citizen, she completed her undergraduate training at McMaster University, graduating with an honors bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology. She later moved to the United States of America to pursue a career in medicine. She received her medical degree from Midwestern University - Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. She subsequently completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic, followed by a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Iowa. Her primary clinical interests include all types of musculoskeletal injuries, college and professional-level sports coverage, dance medicine, diagnostic and interventional ultrasound-guided procedures, global health and nutrition, and resident teaching. Dr. Iafrate has appeared on various media outlets discussing healthcare in the USA, is a peer reviewer for multiple performing arts journals, and frequently lectures on dance medicine and musculoskeletal ultrasound nationally and internationally. She works with multiple dance schools in New York City, was medical consultant for Jagged Little Pill during its' broadway run, and is one of the rotating team physicians for the US Ski Team. In her spare time she enjoys traveling the world, dancing, rock climbing, and alpine skiing.

Dr. Iafrate is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at NYU and sees patients in three locations in Manhattan. Dr. Iafrate is a New York Magazine SuperDoctors Rising Star in Sports Medicine (2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022).

Dr. Chelsea Pierotti

Ph.D.

Passionate Coach LLC

Chelsea Pierotti, Ph.D. is a Sport Psychology Consultant for dancers through her organization, Passionate Coach LLC. As a former professional ballet dancer and dance team coach she focuses on mental skills training including mental toughness, confidence, anxiety control, motivation, team building, and leadership. Much of her work is done in person through private workshops offered at studios, high schools, and colleges around the country. She is also a speaker on topics such as growth mindset, mental skills for competitive success, reducing performance anxiety, and more. Private phone coaching for individual dancers is also available. As dancers we train our bodies for hours on end, but sometimes it’s the mind that gets in the way of our success. As a Mental Performance Coach, Dr. Chelsea focuses on the mental side of dance, helping to ensure dancers can perform at their full potential when it counts.

Dr. Carrie Skony

DC, CCSP

PERFORM Active Wellness + Dance Medicine

Dr. Carrie Skony is a Chiropractic Physician with a post-graduate certification as a Chiropractic Sports Physician, with a specialized focus in Dance Medicine. She has been working with dancers and dance companies throughout the Chicago suburban area since 2005. She utilizes a wide variety of techniques to treat dancers including: joint and soft tissue mobilization, physical therapy, functional rehabilitation, and dance specific strength and conditioning. Dr. Skony is passionate about keeping dancers healthy and injury free, and about educating and empowering dancers so they can get back to dancing safely. She offers injury assessments and technique evaluation for dancers, personalized and dance-specific physical rehabilitation, pre-pointe evaluations, nutrition for dancers, and on-going education on injury prevention, and wellness counseling as it relates to dance. She also offers numerous workshops and onsite injury screenings to dance companies in her area.

Designations:

Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP)

Services Provided:

Chiropractic

Physical Rehab

Sports Medicine

Injury Prevention

Injury Rehabilitation

Strength and Conditioning

Maria Haralambis

M.Ed., NASM CES, FMT

The Dance Scientist, L.L.C.

I'm Maria Haralambis, M.Ed., NASM CES, FMT, a current Ph.D. student and CEO of The Dance Scientist, L.L.C. I help Dancers & Dance Educators understand and apply Dance Science principles through Resources, Master Classes, Training Sessions, Mentoring, Injury Risk Assessments, and more. By collectively integrating insight from Biomechanics, Kinesiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Physiology, Motor Learning, Cardiovascular Fitness, and Somatic practices, my pedagogy ultimately achieves a more well-rounded, refined, and holistic understanding of helping dancers succeed. I am extremely passionate about integrating anatomical principles to help Dancers & Educators improve the way they dance & instruct, ultimately fostering a deeper sense of kinesthetic awareness.

Certifications:

Stott Pilates

Acrobatic Arts

Cecchetti Council of America

First Aid

Rock Tape

NSLS Fully Inducted Member

NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist

Services Provided:

Dancer Screenings

Dance Science Printable E-Books

Online Courses

Dance Science Mentoring

Master Classes

Professional Organizations:

Journal of Dance Education - Peer Reviewer

Doctors for Dancers - Advisory Board Member

IADMS - Early Career Mentor

IADMS - Promotions Committee

Healthy Dancer Canada - Planning Committee

Healthy Dancer Canada - Outreach and Communications Committee (Social Media Administrator)

NDEO - National Honor Society for Dance Arts Judge

NDEO - Advocacy Sub-Committee Co-Chair

Dr. Jenna Loewer

DPT

On Pointe Wellness and Rehab PLLC

Jenna Loewer, DPT is a Physical Therapist in Northern Virginia and the owner of On Pointe Wellness and Rehab PLLC. As a former dancer, she developed a love of movement early on. In 2011, she graduated from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. After graduation, she gained experience working with The Rochester City Ballet, Garth Fagan Dance Company and Eastman School of Music. In 2013, she relocated to Northern Virginia where she quickly realized her unique experience with Dance Medicine was able to fulfill a need in the area. In 2016, she founded On Pointe Wellness and Rehab with the goal to provide personalized Physical Therapy services to dancers.

Jenna has a passion for educating and empowering dancers to be in control of their own health and wellness. To share this passion with others, she regularly teaches wellness workshops at various dance studios throughout Northern Virginia. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member with the George Mason University Dance and Athletic Training departments. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Orthopedic Section of the APTA, Performing Arts Special Interest Group, and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.

Jenna has a special interest in helping dancers heal from hip impingement through movement re-education and developing strength and conditioning programs. Her mission is to provide each dancer with the specialized and personal attention they deserve, so they are able to continue doing what they love for years to come!

Dr. Chrissy Davis

PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS

Precision Performance Sports Medicine

Dr. Chrissy Davis, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS is a licensed Physical Therapist with a primary interest in orthopedics, manual therapy, performing arts medicine and performance therapy and training. Dr. Chrissy’s mission is to help dancers reduce their risk of injury and perform at their fullest potential through an individualized treatment approach. Dr. Chrissy utilizes functional movement and dance specific movement screens to identify movement impairments which could limit a dancer's promise and potentially lead to injury. As a Strength Coach for a 3-time National Champion High School Dance team since 2006, she blends her vast experience in strength training for dancers with her physical therapy experience to create individualized programs to keep her dancers dancing at their fullest potential. As a former dancer herself, she experienced numerous injuries where there was no treatment other than rest/ice, and through her education has learned how that is/was the wrong appropriate. Dr. Chrissy desires to educate her dancers that “pain” is not normal, how to treat an issue before it is an injury, and how to properly rehab and return to dance after an injury. Dr. Chrissy is currently completing her Fellowship in manual therapy and utilizes a variety of manual techniques include joint mobilization/manipulation, Active Release Technique (ART) and Trigger Point Dry Needling. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2017 and recently sat for the exam to become a Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopaedics.

Dr. Chrissy maintains various professional memberships, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, the Illinois Physical Therapy Association, International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, and the American Physical Therapy Association.

Dr. Theresa Ronna

DPM

Kayal Orthopaedic Center, PC

Your feet are your foundation, a stable strong foundation has the ability to keep you injury free and dancing for life. I am Dr. Ronna, a dancer turned doctor with a passion for keeping dancers feet healthy, strong and on their toes. I practice holistic podiatry and use cutting edge techniques to diagnose and treat a multitude of foot and ankle issues. I have treated dancers from Broadway to Dancing with the Stars and everywhere in between. My approach is a multi disciplined one where I utilize other professionals who treat dancers such as physical therapist, chiropractors and orthopedic surgeons. I understand the unique demands and needs of dancers and tailor my treatment plans accordingly.

Dr. Ronna spent 17 years of her life in a dance studio prior to becoming a podiatrist. She trained with many highly regarded pioneers in the field of sports medicine and completed an internship with Dr. Lyle Micheli, MD, a Harvard Medical School professor, dance medicine expert, and orthopedist to the Boston Ballet. I spent two subsequent years in clinical observation at the Miller Health Care Institute for Performing Arts in NYC, where she was trained by Dr. William Hamilton, MD. Dr. Hamilton is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon who is considered the father of dance medicine and is the orthopedist for the American Ballet Theatre, NYC Ballet, and the Ailey company. After completing a surgical residency, she spent three subsequent years caring for Marines and Sailors at Naval Hospital Camp LeJeune.

Dr. Ronna has been part of the medical teams for several NYC marathons, the 1988 pre-o;ympic games, the 4th All African Games in Nairobi, Kenya, the World Games in Rome, Italy and the Can-Am Rugby tournament in Lake Placid. It is in this capacity that she is able to blend her knowledge of lower extremity biomechanics and her firsthand dance experience to bring outstanding care to young, aspiring performers, retired performers and trained athletes.

https://doctorsfordancers.com/2858/theresa-ronna/