Briar Nolet’s “My Prerogative” routine on NBC’s “World of Dance” last season encompassed every crowd-pleasing acrobatic move you could imagine—and not imagine: aerial forward rolls and walkovers that seemed to come out of nowhere; leaps, turns and tumbles all stitched together in well-crafted, surprising ways. Nolet’s body looped, bent and threw itself through impossible-looking sequences […]

It’s hard to find a dancer who doesn’t want to increase their flexibility in at least one part of their body. So one of 2019’s biggest fitness trends caught our attention: Dozens of stretch studios have been popping up across the country, from boutique companies like LYMBR and Stretch*D, to the national franchise StretchLab with […]

The clean slate of a new year makes January prime time for big plans, dreams and, of course, resolutions. But jotting down a bunch of far-fetched goals probably isn’t going to keep you motivated throughout the year. Here, experts sound off on four common dancer resolutions, and how to make each more effective. The Resolution: […]

When it comes to flexibility, more isn’t always better. Donna Flagg says that many of the dancers who show up at her Lastics Stretch Technique classes at studios like Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway are already hypermobile. “They’re so loose,” she says, “they just yank their legs as far as they can.” That’s […]

It’s been three months since I pulled my hamstring while working extra hard on my flexibility in hot yoga. I’ve done physical therapy every week. But even though it’s now healed, I feel pain as soon as I try to dance. Why can’t I get over this? —Meghan, New York, NY Dealing with a lingering […]

Dancers are always trying to find more flexibility in their bodies. But what’s the best way to do it? We asked former dancers Ann and Chris Frederick, creators of Fascial Stretch Therapy, which targets connective tissue rather than isolating individual muscles. They recommend following these five principles to find the greatest range of motion within […]

When you spend as much time on the road as The Royal Ballet’s Steven McRae, getting access to a proper gym can be a hassle. To stay fit, the Australian-born principal turns to calisthenics—the old-school art of developing aerobic ability and strength with little to no equipment. “It’s basically just using your own body weight,” […]

In the studio, dancers obsess over proper form to mitigate the risk of injury. In the rest of our lives, however, we rarely examine our alignment in the same way. But our downtime habits can directly impact our bodies and, if left unchecked, could cause problems over time. A few simple adjustments might save you […]