NYU Langone’s Harkness Center For Dance Injuries

01/09/2026

Happy New Year!
Harkness Center for Dance Injuries is excited to launch its educational theme for 2026:
BODIES—A deep dive into our anatomy

Throughout the year, our community programming will focus on functional anatomy through a biopsychosocial lens specific to anyone who identifies as a dancer. We will prioritize injury risk reduction while increasing our overall well-being; and we will discover new ways that we can align our aesthetic visions with the science of our health.

Join our FIRST Saturday Series workshop of 2026 on January 24!

Voice Anatomy and Function for Dancers

*Led by special guest and speech-language pathologist Aaron M. Johnson, PhD, co-director of the NYU Langone Voice and Swallowing Center.
*In person at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET.

For dancers who use their voices in performance, this workshop will review best practices for vocal health. For dancers not accustomed to using their voices in their artistic endeavors, this workshop will be an opportunity to better understand this vital part of our body and how it relates to both our art form and our identity. Dr. Johnson will discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the three-part vocal system (breathing, phonation, and resonance), practical exercises for maintaining vocal health, common vocal problems in performers, and guidance on when to seek professional care for voice concerns.

Register now and find a complete list of 2026 Saturday workshops on the registration page!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saturday-series-voice-anatomy-and-function-for-dancers-tickets-1979740809053?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/29/2025

Take advantage of winter break and schedule a FREE,
1-hour Injury Prevention Assessment ❄️💃

To book an in-person or virtual IPA, call our office at 212-598-6054.

12/24/2025

Happy holidays from the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries! We wish our entire community a peaceful, safe, healthy season.

12/24/2025

The entire staff of Harkness Center for Dance Injuries expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Dr. Lyle Micheli.

"Dr. Micheli was my physician while I was at Boston Ballet, during a time when the physical demands of dance had taken a significant toll on my body. As my performing career was coming to a close, he met those moments with warmth, kindness, and a quiet twinkle in his eye that made even difficult conversations feel more human.
Years later, when I joined Harkness as a physical therapist, I was reminded of the profound role Dr. Lyle Micheli played in shaping the field of dance medicine. Over the years, I had the privilege of reconnecting with him at continuing education conferences hosted at Harkness, where we shared thoughtful conversations about Boston, the dance community, and the path I had taken since those earlier years. His compassion and professionalism left a lasting mark on the dance medicine community."
-Sarah Edery-Altas, PT, DPT, OCS

Lyle Micheli, MD Image Print Profile Listen Lyle Micheli, MD Professional History It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Lyle J. Micheli, MD, director emeritus of Boston Children’s Sports Medicine Division. Dr. Micheli was a beloved colleague and a transformative figure in pe...

12/11/2025

Here are a few of our athletic trainers showing off their go-to backstage treatment tools ✨

Ella Otto — cups
Joshua Honrado — massage gun
Hailey Calkins — therabands
Bridgette Saba — mobilization belt
Glenn Dekler — IASTM tool

These tools keep our dancers feeling recovered and ready to perform.
What’s your favorite? 💪🩰

12/11/2025

Joint Hypermobility allows for beautiful lines in dance, but also predisposes dancers to increased risk of injury. It is important to strengthen the muscles around these joints to decrease injury risk. Here are several example exercises from two recent research studies on how to protect these joints.

Sign up for a free Injury Prevention Assessment, in-person or on Zoom, for 1-on-1 guidance on how to perform these exercises by calling our office (212-598-6054).

12/10/2025

Our Dance Educator Partnership & Thought Hub (DEPTH) cohort has been meeting monthly since September, and our December session today focused on dance educator self-care.

DEPTH allows dance educators to gather and think deeply about common issues, concerns, and ways to make systemic, positive change for their students and for the field of dance education.

Our inaugural cohort will continue meeting through May 2026. Stay tuned for the 2026-27 DEPTH cohort application period opening!

Pictured: Lauren McIntyre, ATC, instructor of our virtual session

12/05/2025

Tomorrow! Saturday, December 6, 2025
TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT: PREPARATION & RETURN TO DANCE with Sarah Plumer Holzman, PT, DPT
11:00 AM EST on Zoom

For our last Saturday Series workshop of 2025, Dr. Plumer-Holzman will offer insights on pre-total hip replacement considerations and the elements important for success when getting back to dance post-procedure.

https://linktr.ee/harknesscenterfordanceinjuries

11/29/2025

Today is the day! Join us and keep warm with
Injury Risk Reduction Strategies for Joint Hypermobility
with Joshua Honrado, DAT
Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST
at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saturday-series-injury-risk-reduction-strategies-for-joint-hypermobility-tickets-1820210100409

Registration is now open for our November, in person Saturday Series workshop!

Injury Risk Reduction Strategies for Joint Hypermobility
With Joshua Honrado, DAT

Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries

This workshop will offer practical insight into recognizing the signs of general joint hypermobility and provide strategies on how to manage it. Participants will perform the Beighton joint hypermobility test to determine the extent of their hypermobility and learn evidenced-based exercises to enhance movement quality, reduce risk for injury, and promote sustainable artistry.

Register: https://linktr.ee/harknesscenterfordanceinjuries

11/13/2025

Join our last IN PERSON Saturday Series workshop of 2025:

Injury Risk Reduction Strategies for Joint Hypermobility with Joshua Honrado, DAT

November 29 at 11:00 AM
Register through https://linktr.ee/harknesscenterfordanceinjuries

11/12/2025

The Harkness Center Healthy Dancer Initiative application for the next term closes TODAY - apply now!

It is that time of year again – the application period for our Harkness Center Healthy Dancer Initiative is OPEN—now through November 12, 2025.

Participants can take subsidized classes at all three of our partner organizations; Mark Morris Dance Group, Gibney, and Broadway Dance Center.

The Harkness Center Healthy Dancer Initiative (HCHDI) provides subsidized training and free wellness workshops to professional dancers who have financial need. The program aims to encourage a sound, holistic approach to self-care and aid in career longevity.

The next six-month term will take place January 2 – June 30, 2026.

Find details on the program and application pathway: https://linktr.ee/harknesscenterfordanceinjuries
Photo credits clockwise from top left: John Eng, Kayleen Bertrand, Elyse Mertz, Kristen Stevens

10/31/2025

All of us at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries wish you a happy, fun, and safe Halloween!