Some dance students have been affected by a policy prohibiting them from dancing with an injury.
The policy reads that, in the case of an injury, the dean of Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment requires that a student be examined by a physician and be cleared before resuming participation in dance classes and activities.
The policy is to prevent students from acquiring a chronic injury, said Melanie Shelley, associate dean of dance.
“All of our policies that we have for our students are to ensure that they are going to have a long career,” Shelley said. “It’s very common with dancers to want to dance when they’re injured, but if they don’t let it heal, a dancer can have something that goes from an acute injury, which is a short-lived injury, to a chronic injury, which is a long-term problem.”
Shelley said some students don’t understand at the time of the injury how serious it is and how it can affect their future career, but later thank dance professors for having forbidden them to dance while injured.
The policy helps dancers safely heal from injuries, said Mackenzie Jones, dance senior.
“I think it’s really helpful because dancers can get caught up in just wanting to dance, but, by forcing them to take the time off, they’re actually helping their bodies,” Jones said.
Bond Bourquein, dance junior, has been unable to dance since the second week of school due to a back injury.
“When the doctor told me that I can’t dance for the rest of the semester, it broke my heart. I have danced my entire life since I was 4,” Bourquein said. “I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to this policy. I completely understand that our health is No. 1. However, it is so hard for a dancer to be okay with not dancing.”
Jo Rowan, chairman of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, broke her wrist but continues to teach classes. Rowan was unavailable last week for comment.
Shelley said students are required to follow the policy and not teachers because teachers don’t have to perform or take classes.
“Teachers can talk through the class and modify what he or she is doing,” Shelley said. “Jo is an amazing example of someone who usually does dance full-out during class, so right now she is not dancing full-out. She is being mindful of what is happening with her wrist.”
Mia Sherlock, dance freshman, suffered a fracture and hyperextended tendon on her foot that left her in a boot and unable to dance for four weeks.
“Overall, the faculty was very understanding of my injury, and there was an overwhelming sense that they wanted to help me heal and get better,” Sherlock said. “Teachers don’t need to be in 100 percent top physical shape in order to teach, so it makes sense that they are allowed to come back at their own discretion.”
Shelley said they have taken preventive measures to help keep students safe from injury.
“We double-cast all our shows for the American Spirit Dance Company so that a student doesn’t feel like they have to dance injured. We also really stress to have students go to orthopedic doctors who deal with dancer and athlete injuries,” Shelley said. “Everything we do in dance and entertainment is try to help students have a long and healthy career.”
Bourquein said she looks forward to being able to dance again.
“It’s a journey. I have learned to take each day as it is,” she said.
Leave a Reply