Inclusion of Dancer Wellness Education Programs in U.S. Colleges and Universities: A 20-Year Update

Area of Science:

• Dance Science
• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Dancer wellness education in U.S. colleges and universities began formalization in the 1990s.
• This emerged from advancements in dance medicine and science.
• The current state of dancer wellness education in higher education is largely undocumented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the integration and status of dancer wellness education within U.S. higher education institutions.
• To identify current practices, faculty qualifications, and curricular content related to dancer wellness.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 199 dance administrators at 4-year institutions.
• Stratified random sampling was used for participant selection.
• Data were collected via an online survey, with 72 participants completing at least part of it.

Main Results:

• 60% of programs offered formal dancer wellness, and 70% had a wellness specialist.
• Less than half preferred faculty with formal wellness study, and only 17% required it.
• Top curricular topics included anatomy, kinesiology, somatics, dance conditioning, and injuries.

Conclusions:

• While dancer wellness education shows positive trends, widespread implementation and faculty advocacy are still necessary.
• Further development is needed to ensure comprehensive dancer wellness education in higher education.