Ballet Science

Pilates is everywhere in the dance world… but what actually makes it so effective for ballet dancers?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kerry Shea, Pilates instructor at the School of American Ballet (NYC), to break down how Pilates supports alignment, core control, coordination, injury prevention, and performance... from young pre-professionals to seasoned pros.

We cover:
What is Pilates?
What “the core” means for dancers
Why Pilates is especially helpful for hypermobility
How SAB integrates Pilates into a holistic health + wellness model
Common dancer patterns Pilates helps fix
Why “just doing more ballet” can reinforce dysfunctional patterns
How to start Pilates safely + what certifications to look for in an instructor

🎧 Subscribe to the Ballet Science Podcast (YouTube, Apple, Spotify) for weekly episodes on biomechanics, injury prevention, adult ballet, anatomy, mindset, and the science behind dance.

💬 Have more questions about Pilates? Leave them in the comments!

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E-mail: [email protected]

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
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Logo Photo: Richard Calmes

Backstage is a Ballet Science bonus series featuring short reflections on lessons learned as a professional ballerina and ballet teacher, and how biomechanics and research later helped explain them. Quick insights at the intersection of studio experience and science.

If you’ve ever wanted to try ballet as an adult... or you’ve started but something feels harder than it should... this video is for you.

In this Ballet Science: Backstage episode, I break down five of the most common mistakes adult ballet students make. These are not failures... they’re completely normal patterns I see again and again as someone who teaches adult ballet and studies movement science.

We talk about:
Why intimidation keeps so many adults from ever starting
How the wrong class or teacher can make ballet feel impossible
Why adult dancers often feel “behind” (and why that’s not true)
The risks of forcing turnout, flexibility, or ballet “shape”
Why ballet progress is not linear, especially for adults
From a biomechanics and motor learning perspective, adult dancers bring unique strengths to ballet: focus, body awareness, and the ability to understand complex movement concepts. Ballet doesn’t have to hurt, overwhelm you, or feel discouraging to be effective.

🩰 Adult ballet is about working with your body, not against it. You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to begin.

💬 If you’re on your own adult ballet journey, I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

📌 And if there’s an adult ballet topic you want me to cover next, let me know!

Watch This Video On YouTube⁠⁠

Connect With Ballet Science:
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠
⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠
⁠⁠X⁠⁠
⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠
E-mail: [email protected]

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
⁠⁠⁠Microphone⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Pop Filter⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Mic Stand⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Prompter⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Large Key Light⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Small Key Light⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠⁠

Logo Photo: Richard Calmes

If you are a dancer, chances are you’ve been told you have a bunion, you’re going to get a bunion, or you’ve spent way too much time staring at your big toe, wondering if that bump is “normal.”

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, we take a biomechanics-based look at bunions in ballet dancers.

You will learn:
What is a bunion?
Why are bunions so common in ballet dancers?
The difference between having a bunion and having bunion pain
How ballet shoe and pointe shoe fit influences symptoms
What dancers can realistically do to manage bunions and reduce irritation

We also talk about turnout mechanics, loading through the big toe, toe spacers, and why no single product or exercise can “fix” a bunion... but many strategies can help dancers stay comfortable and dancing longer.

🎧 Subscribe to the Ballet Science Podcast (YouTube, Apple, Spotify) for weekly episodes on biomechanics, injury prevention, adult ballet, anatomy, mindset, and the science behind dance.

💬 Have more questions about bunions? Leave them in the comments... your questions may shape future episodes.

Toe Spacer Affiliate Links:
https://amzn.to/49CHt73
https://amzn.to/4qDqHe3
https://amzn.to/3YZ7AyT

Join the Ballet Science E-mail List

Watch This Video On YouTube⁠

Connect With Ballet Science:
⁠Website⁠
⁠Instagram⁠
⁠Facebook ⁠
⁠X⁠
⁠Amazon Storefront⁠
E-mail: [email protected]

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
⁠⁠Microphone⁠⁠
⁠⁠Pop Filter⁠⁠
⁠⁠Mic Stand⁠⁠
⁠⁠Prompter⁠⁠
⁠⁠Large Key Light⁠⁠
⁠⁠Small Key Light⁠⁠
⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠

Logo Photo: Richard Calmes

Backstage is a Ballet Science bonus series featuring short reflections on lessons learned as a professional ballerina and ballet teacher, and how biomechanics and research later helped explain them. Quick insights at the intersection of studio experience and science.

What happens when a professional ballet dancer starts a PhD?

When I transitioned from a professional ballet career into a PhD in biomechanics, I expected the hardest part to be learning the science. What surprised me most was how different the pace, feedback, identity, and emotional experience of academia felt... and how little of that transition had to do with intelligence.

In this Backstage episode, I share five things I wish I had known before starting my PhD after ballet, especially for dancers considering careers in science, research, or academia.

You’ll learn:
Why academic feedback feels painfully slow compared to ballet
How identity shifts can feel unsettling, but aren’t failures
Why dancers don’t need to “prove” they belong in academia
Why missing the studio doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice
How ballet training prepares you for research more than you realize

If you’re a dancer navigating a nonlinear career path, transitioning out of the studio, or wondering whether science or graduate school is “for you,” this video is for you.💬 Have you made a transition from dance into academia or another field? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

Watch This Video On YouTube⁠

Connect With Ballet Science:
⁠Website⁠
⁠Instagram⁠
⁠Facebook ⁠
⁠X⁠
⁠Amazon Storefront⁠
E-mail: [email protected]

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we will explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
⁠⁠Microphone⁠⁠
⁠⁠Pop Filter⁠⁠
⁠⁠Mic Stand⁠⁠
⁠⁠Prompter⁠⁠
⁠⁠Large Key Light⁠⁠
⁠⁠Small Key Light⁠⁠
⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠

Logo Photo: Richard Calmes

Have you ever thought, “I’ve always wanted to try ballet, but I’m too old” ... or “I didn’t start as a kid, so what’s the point now?” This episode is for you.

In this Ballet Science Podcast episode, former professional ballerina and biomechanics PhD Caroline Simpkins breaks down how to start ballet as an adult from a science-based, body-respectful perspective.

We cover:
📌 Why ballet is absolutely accessible for adults
📌 The neurological, balance, and strength benefits of ballet
📌 How ballet supports health across the lifespan
📌 How to choose the right adult beginner ballet class
📌 What to wear (and what you don’t need)
📌 What to expect in your very first ballet class
📌 Why ballet is for all bodies (including men)
📌 How often should adult beginners take class

Whether you’re starting ballet for the very first time, returning after childhood training, or just ballet-curious, this episode will help you approach ballet in a way that supports your body instead of fighting it.

🎧 Subscribe to the Ballet Science Podcast for weekly episodes on biomechanics, injury prevention, adult ballet, anatomy, mindset, and the science behind dance.

💬 Have questions about adult ballet? Leave them in the comments... your questions may shape future episodes.

Affiliate Links:🩰 Adult Ballet Clothing Ideas

Watch This Video On YouTube

Connect With Ballet Science:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
X
Amazon Storefront
E-mail: [email protected]

Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we will explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:
⁠Microphone⁠
⁠Pop Filter⁠
⁠Mic Stand⁠
⁠Prompter⁠
⁠Large Key Light⁠
⁠Small Key Light⁠
⁠Eve Flare Light⁠

Logo Photo: Richard Calmes