The Dancers’ Health Pilot Scheme is a groundbreaking research project that responds to the most pressing problem facing the dance industry today – keeping the workforce of dancers healthy and performing at their best. 80% of dancers incur at least one injury each year which affects their ability to perform. This high level of injury is costing the sector an estimated £1 million a year in lost working time, and a further £900,000 to treat the injuries. (Source: Fit to Dance 2, Laws, 2005)

This Pilot Scheme is the largest and most detailed research project of its kind investigating dancers’ health and fitness and the causes and treatment of injury. It will give dancers taking part access to the full range of dance medicine and science services available at the project’s partner institutions in order to study the effectiveness of a whole range of injury prevention and supplementary training measures. The study will reveal the best ways to prevent injury and maintain the highest levels of performance. The findings will be used to plan future provision based on hard evidence, establishing the most cost effective healthcare and dance science support services for dancers.

The Dancers’ Health Pilot Scheme research project has been devised by Dance UK in partnership with internationally renowned sports and dance medicine and science experts at the Olympic Medical Institute, Laban, the University of Wolverhampton and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Jerwood Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Dance Injuries.

This project is widely supported by the dance sector, with champions including Tamara Rojo of the Royal Ballet Company, William Trevitt of the BalletBoyz and Mark Baldwin of Rambert Dance Company.

Bonnie Langford says:
“I think this scheme and the plan to have a network of healthcare professionals who understand and specialise in dance to contact is brilliant. Having Sharon [experienced dance / sports physiotherapist] on board for Dancing On Ice was a revelation to me. Having always worked as an independent dancer / performer that luxury is one that I have rarely encountered. She literally kept us all going! I really think it is excellent and timely that at last dancers are being elevated to the level of sportsmen and women.”

The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for the Olympics says:
“This is exactly the type of project that we hoped the London 2012 Olympics would inspire: A dynamic and ambitious partnership project which brings the Sports and Dance worlds together.”

If you think dancers deserve to have access to the same level of quality specialised medical care as other athletes and sports people you can help make this a reality by donating to this project. Any amount will help...

£2000 pays for one dancer for one year to be a part of the project,

£650 will pay for medical insurance for one dancer for one year,

£100 will pay for a thorough health and fitness profile for one dancer,

£30-60 will pay for one physiotherapy or massage treatment.

For more information on this research project and the long term vision for dance medicine and science provision for the dance sector visit www.danceuk.org.

Huge thanks to the Jerwood Charitable Foundation for being the first to make a donation of £80,000 towards the project!