Posted by: IADMS Student Committee 

How did you first get interested in dance science/medicine?

I found out about dance science when touring Texas A&M when I was a senior in high school. I had no idea that this major existed, but as soon as I found out, I knew that was exactly the path I wanted to take for my undergraduate education. 

Are you currently participating in research? Can you give us your elevator pitch about your research area?

Yes, I have just finished with a research study entitled "Dance Aerobic Fitness Test Steady Increase Training versus Plyometric High Intensity Interval Training on Cardiovascular levels in collegiate dancers" and I will be presenting a poster of the research at IADMS in Houston this year. This research study was a five week long study and the goal was to find out which training method is the best for dancers to use in preparation for performance season. The results may surprise you! Come to IADMS this year to hear more details! 

As a student based in Texas, can you tell us a bit about the dance medicine and science ‘scene’ there?

Texas A&M has a lot of interest in the field. In our program, anatomy is talked about in every technique class, a lot of research studies go on-faculty and student led- that students can participate in, and every year we do wellness screens for the students to learn about their own bodies and structural capabilities/limitations.  

What would you say to a student thinking of attending this year’s annual meeting in Houston, Texas?

I think that IADMS is an enriching conference that could be beneficial for anyone in attendance. I am looking forward to hearing of the research being done in the field currently so I can update my practice and help protect my body better when dancing. I am also looking forward to making connections that could help me figure out the path I need to take in my life for the future. It is refreshing to be with people that are like-minded, and I am excited to be in a place that most of the other people share my passions. 

This year’s annual meeting is in Houston, in one sentence tell us what we can expect from the city…

Houston is definitely an exciting place to visit, and a good representation of the phrase "everything is bigger in Texas", so there is definitely enough to do for everybody!