09/24/2026
With the caveat that this is far more complex than a 2,200-character post could cover…
I’m currently dealing with my worst dance injury yet, and it’s been humbling how much it’s revealed—both good and bad—in our dance community.
There’s certainly a lot of pressure to keep dancing through pain. My right knee started hurting in July. I had a ton of work and dancing to do, so I pushed through it. Slowly, it got worse until I couldn’t walk for a few days and had to stop dancing altogether.
I knew it was bad, yet I didn’t listen to my body. I felt ashamed wearing my brace just to walk around at gigs. I worried people would think, this girl has no self control; she did too much.
But something unexpected happened. When dancers asked what happened, many looked at my brace and said, “Oh, I have a bad ___ too!” There was this weird camaraderie among injured dancers that I hadn’t expected.
PT also opened my eyes to how little we talk about injury prevention. They were shocked that communal warm-ups and stretches aren’t common at socials, and I learned that waiting too long after dancing to cool down may not be as helpful.
I stayed away from dancing for over a month because I knew the temptation would be strong. But it was lonely. Dance isn’t just a hobby for many—it’s a community. Choosing not to go means giving up a major source of connection.
Last night I finally went back, with instructions to dance only a few very slow songs. Sitting out most of the night, turning people down, and not being able to participate normally… honestly, it sucked. I’m grateful for the people who came over just to chat.
The people I did dance with were mostly dancers I knew could accommodate my limitations. I love dancing with newer dancers, but sometimes saying no has nothing to do with you personally. I simply wasn’t physically able to dance fast and safely—and because i didn’t have a brace on, I didn’t necessarily look injured.
I don’t have a huge revelation here. But since almost every dancer will encounter injury at some point, maybe we can start by talking about it more—with less shame, more honesty, and more compassion.
