I thought I’d be fine after undergoing successful surgery to repair a torn ankle ligament. Instead, I’m depressed and hopeless that I’m still not able to perform. My therapist tells me I’m making good progress, but I don’t see it. Why not? —Ashley, San Francisco, CA You’ve fallen into a common trap—comparing your dancing to […]

What dancers do during their summer layoff can be the key to a successful next season. The theory of periodization suggests that downtime should be carefully divided into multiple stages: post-season total rest, off-season cross-training and pre-season ramping up. Building this strategic recovery time into your yearly schedule can allow for improvement—and decrease your chances […]