Your Body, Your Risk

Dance UK Release New Title
Dance UK have just announced the launch of a new book entitled Your Body, Your Risk aimed at young dancers which will provide essential information to help keep dancers dancing for longer.

Dance UK explain:“Dancers have an incredibly demanding and vigorous training regime. They need to be fitter, stronger and quicker than ever before in order to meet the demands of choreographers whose styles can be fast, eclectic and physically strenuous. Audiences also expect dancers to be highly trained, to be athletes as well as artists. If they are to achieve performance excellence, dancers need to take responsibility for their own health and well-being. They need to work smarter not just harder. They need to know how to look after themselves, to minimise risk of injury and maximise their potential.”

Your Body Your Risk will provide information about healthy eating, promoting a positive body image, warning signs of eating disorders requiring specialist advice, and workplace health and safety regulations that are relevant to dancers. Many key figures in the dance world are supportive of the initiative.

“Maintaining a healthy body and mind is critical to exceptional performance – on stage, in rehearsal, whilst teaching, even in discussion, giving value to your body means giving the time to understand it and demands intelligent, informed and regular care”says Wayne McGregor.

Sue Smith, a member of the Council for Dance Education and Training has also expressed her appreciation of the book. “The book has good practical advice not just on identifying problems but what to do next. The section on legal advice and procedure is particularly useful as it can be easy to forget that there are structures in place to help.”

Your Body, Your Risk is available directly through Dance UK priced £4.50 (£3.50 for Dance UK members and students with proof of status) plus £1 p&p. Contact Helen Laws to order:

Helen Laws
Healthier Dancer Programme
Dance UK
Battersea Arts Centre
Lavender Hill
London
SW11 5TN
Tel: 020 7228 4994
Dance UK main tel : 020 7228 4990
Fax: 020 7223 0074
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