For many dancers, the end of the year means performances, exams, and competitions – followed by a well-deserved summer break. After such a busy term, it’s tempting to take time completely off from training. But did you know that staying active and maintaining your strength over the holidays can make a huge difference to your dancing next year?
As a physiotherapist and an ex-dancer myself, I see so many talented dancers come back after summer feeling rusty or frustrated — often because they’ve lost some of the strength and control they built during the year.
Don’t Let 6 Weeks Undo All Your Hard Work
During the year, dancers build incredible strength, flexibility, and control through regular classes and rehearsals. When you suddenly stop, your strength and stability can drop off surprisingly quickly – especially in the feet, ankles, hips, and core. That makes returning to dance tougher and increases your risk of injury.
This is especially important for dancers who have just passed their pointe assessments. Pointe work requires strong, stable ankles and excellent control through the calves, feet, and core. Keeping up your conditioning over the holidays will help you start next term safely.
Cross-Training: The Key to Becoming a Stronger Dancer
Dance alone isn’t always enough to build the strength and endurance needed to reach your goals. Cross-training – incorporating other types of exercise into your routine – is essential for developing strength, injury resilience, and body awareness.
Some great forms of cross-training for dancers include:
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Gym sessions focusing on strength and stability
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Clinical Pilates, which helps improve core control, alignment, and muscle balance
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Individualised exercise programs, targeting your personal goals and areas of improvement
At Pathways Physiotherapy, we love helping dancers build their strength and confidence – both in and out of the studio
Summer Is the Perfect Time to Address Any Niggles
The end of the year can leave dancers with small aches or niggling injuries that they’ve been pushing through to get through concerts, exams, or competitions. The quieter summer months are the perfect time to give your body the attention it needs to recover.
Booking an appointment with Jayde, our dance physiotherapist, is a great way to start. Jayde understands dancers and can assess any injuries, helping you build a plan to come back even stronger.
Get an Individualised Strength Program
This is also the ideal time to work on your strength and conditioning with a tailored program. Whether you’re looking to maintain your fitness, improve your turnout, prepare for pointe, or build more power for jumps, Jayde (Physiotherapist) and Kirsty (Exercise Physiologist) can create a program to suit your goals.
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1:1 sessions are perfect for focused attention and personal feedback
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2:1 sessions let you train with a friend — great for motivation and fun
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We also offer exercise classes where you can practise your program under expert supervision
Make the Most of Your Summer
Taking care of your body now means you’ll return to dance next term feeling strong, balanced, and ready to progress. Use your break wisely – keep moving, stay strong, and look after those little niggles before they turn into bigger issues.
👉 Book your summer strength or physio session with Jayde or Kirsty [book online here] and start your next dance year at your best.