Injuries are a part of any performer’s life. Not a positive part, I’ll admit, yet nonetheless an aspect of the Dance industry that you need to overcome. Whether you like it or not, at some point you will most likely experience one, and how you respond to that injury can really have an effect on the rest of your career. Before you freak out, know that it can actually be a positive in the long run! (I’ll tell you how a little later.)
In 2016 I injured my ankle, and despite it not being broken, it took me away from dancing for far longer than expected. It just didn’t seem to get better because I kept dancing and therefore didn’t allow it to heal properly. What I do hope to do with this post, is to share the hard lessons I learnt throughout my own experience, so that you can hopefully avoid making the same mistakes I made. Looking back, there are so many things that I wish people had told me at the time and truely think they could have sped up my recovery. Read on to find out what they are…
Take away the guilt
So, If you do find yourself injured, the one thing you must do is to let go of any worry that you are going to ‘lose’ technique. I want to remind you that taking six weeks off dancing because your doctor told you to, isn’t going to undo any of your hard work. Yes, you may come back a little stiffer or less fit than you were before, but those things will come back quickly after you fully recover. Feelings of guilt do nothing to help you, in fact they usually hinder your recovery. So if you’re feeling bad about not being in class, take a deep breath and repeat to yourself ‘I am doing everything I can’.
It’s okay to say no
The next thing that was extremely difficult for me to learn was that it’s okay to say no. I said yes to doing a performance two weeks after injuring my ankle. TWO WEEKS!!!! Which meant I was dancing only a few days after coming off crutches and it was honestly one of the most stupid decisions I could have made. I felt like I couldn’t say no because the person who asked me was someone I considered to be important in the industry. I thought if I turned it down I would never be asked again. But I what I’ve learned since is that no gig is worth putting yourself at risk. And in hindsight, the choreographer would have fully understood that.
Set goals for the future
Something else you might consider doing during your down time is setting goals for what you want to do when you recover. There’s nothing like a bit of a break that gets you excited for what’s coming. It really helped me to plan out what I wanted to achieve with dance and reignited the good old motivation flame! I even made a new vision board. It’s such a fun way to feel like you’re still working towards something while you rest. (If you want to know more about why you should make a vision board, click here)
Listen to what this injury is trying to tell you (it could be a cry for help)
As much as we all wish injury didn’t exist, sometimes it’s also our bodies way of telling us that we do need a break. It’s important to try and change your perspective of injuries being such a negative, life-ruining thing. Rather, think of it as potentially an important reminder to listen to whatever signals you are being given. Whether that be from your own body, or the universe (if you’re into that sort of thing).
As much as having time off dancing can seem like the worst thing in the world at the time, the way you react to it can be a true test of your resilience. And we all know what a vital personality trait resilience is for a Dancer. If you are injured currently, and find yourself feeling down about it, just know that you will come out the other side stronger, and oh so ready to take on the (dance) world. So keep your head held high, your injury iced, and your vision board in sight! You’ll do just fine.
Until next time,
Happy Dancing xx
P.s Have you signed up to my Tip Tuesdays yet? It’s where I share the most valuable information to help you look after yourself as a dancer…and of course kick some goals in you Dance career! It’s completely free, so you should totally subscribe now.
