Episodes

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, Dr. Alyssa sits down with Marisa Hollingsworth, Executive and Artistic Director of Presenting Denver, to discuss her journey through the dance world and her work supporting artists and organizations throughout Colorado’s performing arts community. We explore her journey from professional dancer to arts leader and advocate for Colorado’s dance community. Marisa shares her experiences training and performing with companies including Ballethnic Dance Company...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS joined by London-based physiotherapist and performing arts medicine specialist Bethany Shum. Bethany is the founder of Flexibility Matters Physio and works with performers at the National Centre for Circus Arts. Her work spans circus artists, dancers, cheerleaders, and other high-level performers navigating the demands of flexibility, strength, and performance. In this conversation, we dive into: How to differentiate betwee...

This episode features a conversation with Shane Wuerthner, a former professional ballet dancer turned coach and educator who is passionate about bridging the gap between classical ballet and modern sports science. Hosted by Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS. After a 12-year international career, Shane now helps dancers train smarter and stay healthier. Instead of pushing harder or stretching more, he focuses on helping dancers understand how their bodies work. As the founder of Athletistry, he brin...

On this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms is joined by Dr. Kristen Schuyten, PT, DPT, MS, SCS, CSCS — board-certified sports physical therapist, strength and conditioning specialist, and educator. Dr. Schuyten serves as a Clinical Specialist at MedSport through Michigan Medicine, works with the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, sits on the University of Michigan Concussion Center Faculty Council, lectures in the Department of Dance, volunteers as a phys...

As we close out 2025 and begin the new year, it’s time to reflect on the conversations that shaped 2025—and revisit the episodes that continue to resonate year after year. If you’re new here, Dance Med Spotlight is where we bridge the gap between dancers, teachers, healthcare providers, and anyone who supports dancers along the way. Hosted by Dr. Alyssa Arms, this podcast creates space for evidence-informed, dancer-centered conversations that matter. This year, we covered everything from traum...

On this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms is joined by Dr. Rosa Pasculli and Dr. Emma Faulkner for a conversation centered on the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health and its growing impact on the dance community. In this conversation, they explain what Dance/USA is and why the Task Force was created. They also share how its resources support dancers, dance educators, and healthcare providers. In addition, they explore cross-training and strength training for dancers and add...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, turns the focus to the Colorado Dance Education Organization (CoDEO). CoDEO President Ann Hunt joins the conversation to share how the organization supports dance educators, students, and programs across the state. CoDEO is a statewide nonprofit that focuses on advocacy, community-building, and accessible dance education. During the episode, Ann explains how CoDEO serves public schools, private studios, higher education...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms talks with Cara Dixon, co-founder and director of Relative Motion. Cara is a dance educator, adjudicator, and choreographer who blends movement, anatomy, and artistry in her teaching. Relative Motion was created to bridge the gap between dance and anatomy. Cara shares how her team helps dancers build strength, alignment, and longevity through better body awareness. Their approach makes anatomy easy to see and understand — not just som...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS sits down with Dr. Marissa Schaeffer, a physical therapist, educator, and founder of FlySpace Physical Therapy in New York City. Marissa blends clinical expertise, business acumen, and deep understanding of the performing arts to create sustainable systems that support both performers and performing arts clinicians. A graduate of SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Marissa combines her dance background with her ...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS is joined by Dr. Sarah Needham-Beck, PhD, FIADMS—a lecturer and researcher in Dance Science and Applied Physiology at the University of Chichester, freelance consultant, and board member for IADMS. Dr. Beck brings her expertise in applied physiology and quantitative research to the conversation, focusing on how dancers, educators, and companies can use data to support training and performance. Rather than viewing researc...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms is joined by Alexandra Beller MFA, CMA—an artistic director, choreographer, educator, and certified movement analyst. A former dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Alexandra is now a leading somatics educator and the author of two upcoming books, including The Anatomy of Art: Unlocking the Creative Process for Theater and Dance. Alexandra has helped countless artists discover their creative voices—not by telling them what...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, we’re diving into practical, actionable strategies to enhance performance, resilience, and overall dancer health with Sarah Tyndall, PT, MPT, OCS. Whether you’re a dancer, parent, teacher, or studio owner, this conversation offers valuable insight on how to build strength, prevent injury, and support longevity in dance. Our guest, Sarah Tyndall, PT, MPT, OCS, shares her insights as a former dancer turned physical therapist. With nearly 20 years of experie...

In this week’s episode of Dance Med Spotlight, we’re diving into the mental side of performance with sport psychologist and high-performance coach Dr. Chelsea Pierotti. With a background as both a professional ballet dancer and competitive studio dancer, Dr. Pierotti brings a unique blend of academic expertise and real-world experience to her work with dancers and educators. Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, or parent, this conversation offers practical strategies for fostering confidence, moti...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS chats with Dr. Linda Bluestein—a former ballet dancer and physician. Dr. Bluestein specializes in hypermobility and connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS). She brings a unique blend of dance experience and medical insight to her work. Her passion for education led her to create Hypermobility MD and host the Bendy Bodies podcast. Through these platforms, she helps others better understand the challenges...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms sits down with Maria Haralambis, M.Ed., NASM CES, FMT, Ph.D. (C)—a passionate dance science educator, pre-professional ballet teacher, and the founder of The Dance Scientist, L.L.C. Maria brings a diverse range of experience to the table, from teaching in the studio and conducting motor learning research to managing social media for dance businesses and creating educational resources for teachers. Currently pursuing her Ph.D., she’s al...

In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Dr. Alyssa Arms sits down with Kendall Baab, a dance science educator, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and the founder of BodyKinect—an online platform dedicated to dancer-focused strength training and education. Kendall is also a lecturer at Loyola Marymount University’s Dance Department, where she merges scientific principles with the artistry of dance. This conversation explores how dance science helps dancers, teachers, and parent...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Dr. Jeffrey A. Russell, PhD, ATC. In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Alyssa Arms sits down with Dr. Jeff Russell, an experienced athletic trainer with over 40 years in the field—spanning sports medicine, orthopaedics, and the past 23 years dedicated to performing arts medicine. Dr. Russell shares his journey from traditional sports medicine into the world of dance and performing arts, highlighting the critical need for ...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Dr. Matthew Wyon, PhD. Our Guest: Matthew Wyon In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, host Alyssa Arms sits down with Dr. Matthew Wyon, a leading expert in dance medicine and science. With decades of experience at the forefront of research, Dr. Wyon shares valuable insights into the physiological demands of dance, the importance of energy balance, and evidence-based training strategies that support both performance and longevit...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Galit Friedlander. Our Guest: Galit Friedlander Dancers are artists, athletes, and storytellers, and maintaining their health and longevity requires knowledge, strategy, and support. In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, we’re thrilled to welcome Galit Friedlander—a dancer, choreographer, personal trainer, and podcast host who is passionate about bridging movement, personal power, and wellness. With a background that includes...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Courtney Adair, LPCC. Our Guest: Courtney Adair In this episode of Dance Med Spotlight, we welcome back Courtney Adair, a professional West Coast Swing dancer, judge, and instructor with over 15 years of experience. Courtney joins us to dive deep into the concept of trauma-informed dance instruction, exploring its significance and how it can be effectively applied in various teaching settings. Listeners will gain valuable insigh...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Rachel Hennin, National Director of Headliners Dance Championships, to explore how their competition experience goes beyond trophies to foster the personal and professional growth of dancers. Our Guest: Headliners Headliners Dance Championships is more than just a competition—it’s a community dedicated to supporting dancers of all levels. Rachel and her team have crafted an educationally based, goal-oriented experience that prio...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi, PT, DPT, OCS! Our Guest: Sheyi Ojofeitimi Dr. Ojofeitimi is the Director of Therapy Services at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and co-founder of the Dance Ready Project, an initiative designed to support dancers as they safely return to practice after breaks or injuries. With a passion for dancer health and safety, Dr. Ojofeitimi shares her extensive experience and insights on improving ...

As we wrap up another incredible year of conversations on the Dance Med Spotlight podcast, it’s time to look back at the episodes that resonated the most with our listeners. Whether you’re a dancer, educator, healthcare provider, or just someone passionate about the intersection of dance and wellness, these episodes were filled with inspiration and insights that made them stand out. Let’s dive into the Top 5 episodes of 2024 and the Top 5 episodes of all time! Top 5 Episodes of 2024 #5: Dr. Rob...

Join our host, Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, with today’s guest, Monika Saigal, MS, RD, CEDS-C, CDN! Our Guest: Monika Saigal In this episode, we sit down with Monika Saigal, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and former professional dancer who is transforming the way we approach dancer health and wellness. Based in NYC but working with clients across the U.S., Monika brings her expertise in nutrition counseling, education, and advocacy to dancers and d...