Doctors for Dancers in the News
Hear how dancers, teachers and doctors are talking about better care for dancers, from press features to podcast conversations you can listen to today.
Podcast Conversations
Pull up a chair. Dancers are artistic athletes, and these conversations treat them that way: long training days, real pressure, pain nobody should ignore, and finding care that actually gets dance.
The stage isn’t the end of your story.
When your body ends your dancing, what comes next? Hosts Dr. Steven Karageanes (Dr. K), a DFD Dance Specialist, and Yasi Ansari sit down with two guests. Jennifer DePaola, founder of Doctors for Dancers, tells how persistent back pain ended her dance career and led her to start DFD in 2019. Galit Friedlander, a DFD Dance Specialist, shares her path from the stage to choreographer and fitness coach, and the self-doubt she had to push through. Expect real stories, big laughs and a reminder to believe in yourself while you take care of your body.
DFD Dance Specialists on this episode
Primary care sports medicine physician and Medical Director of MercyElite Sports Medicine and Sports Performance at St Mary Mercy Hospital.
View DFD profile →17+ years in the dance world, with a dance-specific approach to reducing injury risk and cross-training.
View DFD profile →About the podcast
Athletes and the Arts
A video podcast on health and wellness for performing artists and athletes, hosted by Dr. Steven Karageanes and Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, and produced by the Athletes and the Arts Coalition. Thank you for championing the health of performing artists.
Visit the podcast →Dancers are athletes. So why are you told to “just rest”?
Rehearsals that run all day. Shows back to back. Auditions, conventions and the pressure to look flawless through all of it. Sound familiar? Jennifer DePaola and Dr. Gianna Morton talk about why dancers get told to rest or quit, what dance-specific care really looks like, and how strength, sleep and food support dancers. You’ll also hear the paths from the studio to Broadway, cruise ships and the commercial world.
DFD Dance Specialist on this episode
Lifelong dancer and former Quinnipiac Dance Team captain. Her own injuries as a young dancer drive her 1:1, manual-based physical therapy for dancers.
View DFD profile →About the podcast
The Driven Athlete
Created and hosted by Dr. Kyle Volstad, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, CSCS, owner of Athlete Restoration Company. A weekly podcast for driven, ambitious people who want to perform better in life, health and exercise, from training and mobility to rehab and the mindset behind performance. Thank you for giving dancers a seat at the table.
Visit the podcast →Stop guessing. See someone who gets dance.
Host Alyssa Arms, a DFD Dance Specialist, sits down with Jennifer DePaola, founder of Doctors for Dancers, who shares her own journey as an injured dancer and why it matters to see someone who understands the art and science of dance. Dancers, teachers and studio owners, this one’s for you. Hear how the DFD directory connects you with specialists who get dance, why proactive care and evaluations can take the guesswork out, and how to bring dance medicine into your studio.
DFD Dance Specialist on this episode
Owner of Back in Step Physical Therapy in Centennial, Colorado.
View DFD profile →About the podcast
Dance Med Spotlight
Hosted by Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, and produced by Back In Step Physical Therapy. It explores the clinical, creative and community sides of dance and how they shape dancers’ health and long-term careers. Thank you for bringing dance medicine to the whole dance community.
Visit the podcast →Care that gets dance is one search away.
Host Allie Christensen, a DFD Dance Specialist, welcomes Jennifer DePaola, founder of Doctors for Dancers, to talk about one free place to find doctors, PTs, trainers, nutritionists and more who actually work with dancers. Hear why DFD started, how it connects dancers with the right support, and what dancers have learned along the way.
DFD Dance Specialist on this episode
Trains dancers in movement patterns, strength, flexibility and injury recovery.
View DFD profile →About the podcast
Beyond The Pointe
Hosted by Allie Christensen, a former professional dancer and owner of Align Fitness by Allie. Each episode brings in a guest from the dance world to talk training, health and careers. Thank you for helping dancers train smarter.
Visit the podcast →What makes a DFD Dance Specialist?
Are Dance Specialists usually former dancers, and why does it matter? Martheya talks with Jennifer DePaola, Founder & CEO of Doctors For Dancers, about what makes someone a true Dance Specialist, why artistic athletes need providers who understand what dance demands, and what that means for a long career. Teachers, you’ll also hear how Jennifer gets dance medicine information to studios and younger dancers in plain language.
About the podcast
Dance Behind the Screen
Hosted by Martheya Nygaard Scott, Executive Director and Co-Creator of kNOwBOX dance, a nonprofit dance think tank. Conversations about where dance, technology and creativity meet. Thank you for connecting dance artists with audiences around the world.
Visit the podcast →She was in pain. Nobody believed her.
If you’ve ever pushed through pain because no one believed it was real, press play. Jennifer DePaola, founder of Doctors for Dancers, opens up about the back injury that changed her life: the pain, the people who doubted she was really hurt, and the hard road to recovery. She talks about the mindset of dancing through an injury, and why dancers and teachers need real education to reduce injury risk.
About the podcast
Dancing Around Elephants
Hosted by Dr. Danelle Dickson, PT, DPT, OCS, a former dancer turned physical therapist. Real stories of dance injury and recovery, plus what dancers should know to manage injuries and build lasting careers. Thank you for starting the conversation.
Visit the podcast →In the Press
See where the dance world is talking about Doctors for Dancers.
When the LSU Tiger Girls were told they couldn’t compete, Doctors for Dancers stepped in.
The dance community rallied behind the team, and Doctors for Dancers advocated for them and helped provide services so they could take the floor. Jezebel tells the story, and our video shows the dance community coming together to #LETTHEMCOMPETE.
On the list physicians point dancers to.
Looking for dance medicine answers? Dance Magazine names Doctors for Dancers among five online resources for dancers like you.
No specialist nearby? Go virtual.
Dance Magazine’s telehealth guide sends dancers to the DFD directory, where many specialists offer virtual counseling. Search “Online” and find someone ready to meet you wherever you are.
Ready to see someone who speaks dance?
Search the DFD directory for Physicians, Physios, Trainers, Nutritionists and more who understand what dancers need.
Want to feature Doctors for Dancers? Get in touch →