Dancers’ lives are centered around their bodies. Throughout their careers, they face the difficult challenge of remaining slender and graceful while maintaining exceptional strength and flexibility. When watching them perform, one forgets that these elegant beings who bring beauty to the world’s stages with seemingly effortless leaps and lifts are continually faced with the same physical demands as world-class athletes.
I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in the evolution of New York City Ballet, and my involvement has enabled me to reflect on the fundamental role our bodies have played in our history. When George Balanchine founded the company in 1948, he revolutionized ballet. Balanchine fused traditional classical vocabulary with modern concepts to create mysterious and striking combinations, and dancers’ bodies were the ideal medium for his neoclassical language. Under his leadership and artistic direction, steps and movements became heightened, quickened, and extended.
While Balanchine’s transformations enriched the dance world and attracted a wider audience, they also placed greater demands on his dancers’ bodies. He acknowledged the athletic aspects of dance by hiring a company physical therapist and orthopedist. Today we have had to adjust to the even larger demands that are being placed on NYCB dancers. Balanchine’s ballets are being performed by dancers who jump higher, move with greater agility, and dance with greater versatility than those a generation ago. Furthermore, our repertory of over 150 ballets is continuing to grow and expand in its diversity. In the same season, our dancers can be expected to perform Balanchine’s neoclassical movements, a Broadway-influenced ballet by Jerome Robbins, and new works by contemporary choreographers. In response to this increased versatility and the growing desire for constant renewal through innovative forms of choreography, a new emphasis has been placed on decreasing the stress on different parts of the body that accompanies the adaptation to diverse technical styles.
Our wellness program was founded in 2001 to respond to the rising awareness of the physical demands of ballet. The goal has been to cultivate our dancers’ health and performance potential by supplementing medical treatment with the knowledge necessary to prevent injury. The program’s health-care professionals consist of psychologist Linda Hamilton, orthopedist William Hamilton, physical therapist Marika Molnar, chiropractor Lawrence DeMann, Jr., and nutritionist Joy Bauer. Since the program’s inception, the company’s workers’ compensation claims and disability have been reduced. Our dancers are now more aware of the consequences of unhealthy behaviors, such as lack of sleep or a poor diet. They also possess a greater understanding of their bodies, recognize the benefits of cross-conditioning, and are committed to increasing their energy levels and optimizing performance.
Although ballet requires more training than a high-level contact sport, its athleticism will always be overshadowed by its artistry. Ballet dancers have reached a keen understanding of this reality. Not only are our dancers committed to achieving technical precision, but they are dedicated to making their movements look effortless. They are conscious of the beautiful illusions they create and seek to inspire audiences through their art.
The Dancer’s Way highlights the techniques and strategies advanced by the NYCB wellness program; however, anyone with an interest in self-improvement can learn from the struggles and achievements of our dancers. This guide reveals the extraordinary preparation behind the mysterious arrangements that we see onstage. Our dancers today are remarkably self-aware. Their commitment drives them to understand their bodies, acknowledge their vulnerabilities, and respond effectively to the physical demands of the dance world. Yet this awareness extends beyond themselves—when I observe them working toward improvement and navigating change, I see them glow with confidence.
I am extremely grateful to Linda Hamilton and the other dedicated and talented members of our medical team, and I thank them for their ongoing commitment to enhancing the health and strength of our dancers. As the dance world evolves, our wellness program will continue to prove that the more we learn, the more we can achieve.
—PETER MARTINS
Ballet Master in Chief