top of page

54 | #JenniferDepaola - Doctors for Dancers

On our second episode of Somatics month, your co-host Martheya interviews the Creator of Doctors For Dancers, Jennifer DePaola. In this episode, we go behind the screen and talk about dance injuries and injury prevention, creating Doctors for Dancers, the database of dance specialists, career longevity and training, The Bridge Dance Project, and the benefit of seeing dance specific medical professionals.



This week on DANCE BEHIND THE SCREEN PODCAST…

[0:28] Martheya introduces Jennifer DePaola


QUESTIONS WITH ERIC FRANKLIN

[1:44] Martheya asks: “We are passionate about making it easy for our community to access dance related resources and people online. Doctors for Dancers has done an incredible job of creating an easy and accessible directory of over 137 Dance Specialists. How does Doctors for Dancers define a Dance Specialist?”

[2:55] Martheya asks: “Do you find that these specialists are former dancers?”

[4:03] Martheya asks: “Can you talk about the benefit of dancers seeing a dance specific medical professional?“

[6:11] Martheya asks: “Could you unpack for us the community Doctors for Dancers is serving?”

[8:04] Martheya asks: “I listened to your talk with Allie Christensen on Beyond the Pointe Podcast. You talked a lot about dedication, advocacy, and your story for starting Doctors for Dancers. For our listeners, can you briefly share your story and why you started Doctors for Dancers?”

[9:50] Martheya asks: “Do you think it was because of the extreme physicality in competitive dance- pushing your body to the limits?”

[12:57] Martheya asks: “So you are still dancing at this time?”

[14:55] Martheya asks: “What are your thoughts on dance and longevity and training?”

[19:00] Martheya asks: “Do you find that these studios are receptive to the information when it is coming from a dance specialist?”

[21:23] Martheya asks: “Do you imagine that you will reach out to the dance studios?”

[23:24] Martheya asks: “I read an article about Doctors for Dancers in Dance Spirit Magazine and I loved how Kaycee Cope Jones shared how Doctors for Dancers will “put together dance medicine resources written in everyday language, addressed to the everyday dancer.” I think this is a common challenge for our dance world. Can you talk about your strategies to share dance medicine in “everyday language”?

[26:00] Martheya asks: “Do you see this new project focused on studios or younger dancers?”

[30:10] Martheya asks: “What is your dialogue with the medical specialists?”

[31:18] Martheya asks: “What else goes into the process of listing them on your site?”

[32:32] Martheya asks: “How are you using social media to connect with your community? Have you seen a shift in how the medical specialist use their social media in relationship to yours?”

[35:12] Martheya asks: “I wanna talk about your #DanceHappens webpage on your site, it is really cool! We at kNOwBOX dance are always working to unveil Dance Behind the Screen to inspire our community because there is comfort in knowing you're not alone. What is on this page and what do you hope sharing this information will do?”

[39:30] Martheya asks: “How do you say NO to the BOX?”

[42:17] Martheya asks: “Is there anything else you want to share with our audience?”



[41:15] Martheya asks:

1- If you had to recommend a resource to our audience what would it be?

2- What was the first dance you saw?

  • Breakin' the Movie

3- Do you think social media has a positive influence on the dance world (yes or no)?

  • “Both”

4- What is your favorite social media platform?

  • Instagram


#DoctorsforDancers Recommended Resources


Connect with #DoctorsforDancers

29 views0 comments
bottom of page