Performing in or attending The Nutcracker ballet is one of the largest holiday traditions in the dance world. With its beautiful music, gorgeous sets and costumes, thrilling scenes featuring dancers of all ages, and choreography that highlights the dancers’ athleticism and artistry, The Nutcracker truly has it all.
Physical Therapy San Pedro (PTSP) has been proudly supporting the San Pedro City Ballet’s Nutcracker for over five seasons. It has been a true honor for us and we love supporting our community.
Summer Preparations
The work begins long before the holiday season, in the summer months, even before auditions take place. Summer Intensive lays the groundwork for the upcoming season. This year, we introduced an exciting new approach. Instead of leading our usual dance strength and conditioning classes, PTSP partnered with San Pedro City Ballet (SPCB) and The Dance Factory (TDF) to teach anatomy to their company and elite team dancers.
Understanding how the body’s structures connect is invaluable for any athlete, especially dancers. It was evident that the dancers were eager to challenge themselves and deepen their knowledge of their bodies, making this new approach a resounding success.
Commitment to Dancer Health
Alongside anatomy activities at the Summer Intensive, we emphasize the importance of committing to health. “I Am Dance Strong” (IADS) is a collective formed to support the physical and mental well-being of dancers. In early 2024, PTSP, SPCB, and TDF came together to create this initiative, which encourages dancers to discuss injury, nutrition, and mental health openly, knowing they have the full support of their teachers, peers, and families.
Monthly Strength and Conditioning Classes
As auditions conclude and rehearsals begin, PTSP provides monthly strength and conditioning (S&C) classes for the SPCB company and the TDF elite team. These classes serve as opportunities for cross-training and as an open forum for dancers to ask questions about their bodies. Dancers can share any challenges they’re facing, allowing us to offer personalized recommendations. These might include focused exercises, scheduling a PT evaluation, or referrals to the appropriate healthcare professional.
Cross-training is often overlooked in the dance world, but here in San Pedro, we’re proud to say that our studios prioritize it. Our S&C classes cover strength, mobility, balance, and plyometric drills—all designed to balance the body, enhance dance performance, and prevent injuries. Both studios have seen remarkable results when dancers regularly attend these classes.
Nutcracker Performance Week
By performance week, rehearsals intensify as dancers transition their routines from the studio to the stage. This shift brings unique challenges, including increased hours and changing conditions. Despite their hard work, some dancers may begin to feel stiff, sore, or experience unexpected tenderness—especially those in lead roles, who endure the highest physical demands.
PTSP is proud to assist dancers backstage during The Nutcracker to ensure they are performance-ready. We treat a variety of issues, including ankle, knee, hip, spine, and shoulder discomfort. Our backstage care often includes a combination of manual therapy, exercise instruction, and taping techniques for additional support. Taping allows dancers to trust their bodies and focus on delivering an artistic performance.
It’s incredibly rewarding as physical therapists to treat a dancer backstage and then watch them deliver a breathtaking performance on stage.
A Labor of Love
If you’ve ever been part of the Nutcracker magic, you know it’s a labor of love. It takes a village to bring this classic production to life. PTSP is grateful to contribute to this process year after year and to help ensure that dancers can share their artistry and passion with audiences during the holiday season.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Are you a dancer struggling with an injury? At PTSP, our goal is to help dancers stay strong and feel their best so they can continue to practice and rehearse without letting mild injuries turn into debilitating ones. We specialize in return-to-dance therapy and are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact us to schedule an appointment. Whether onsite or virtually, we provide personalized care that goes beyond physical therapy to meet your unique needs.
Happy Holidays,
Dr. Bay, Dr. Brown & The PTSP Team
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