All events are FREE and presented by generous volunteers
The ODC Healthy Dancers Clinic celebrates dancers' wellness through the Month for Dancers’ Health: Keep On Dancing! Join Physicians, Nutritionists, Mental Health Specialists, Physical Therapists, and other health practitioners who specialize in dancers' health for an array of workshops, presentations, and individual sessions available throughout the month of February 2026. Presentations are offered at no cost and we rely on donations to support our ongoing programs.
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Presentations
The Embodied Brain: Movement, Neuroplasticity, and Human Adaptability
Dr. Yana Nakhimova
Sunday, February 1st, 2026, 11:15am - 12:45pm
Workshop/Practicum - Studio B
In Person and Online
How does movement shape the brain? Join behavioral scientist and Body Mind Method™ founder Dr. Yana Nakhimova for a unique exploration of how structured movement can train focus, adaptability, and emotional balance.
Drawing from her collaboration with Northeastern University, Yana introduces the neuroscience behind embodied learning and guides participants through short, evidence-informed movement protocols designed to enhance clarity, cognitive flexibility, and stress resilience for movement and mental longevity.
Dr. Yana Nakhimova is the founder of the Body Mind Method, a unique, science-based approach that integrates movement and neuroplasticity to enhance cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being. With a PhD in Social Sciences and extensive experience in behavioral health, Yana has successfully applied her method in diverse settings, including educational institutions and corporate wellness programs. Her holistic approach helps individuals improve focus, productivity, creativity, leadership, and emotional resilience through tailored movement practices.
Moving Through Menopause: Strength, Elasticity, and Ease
Dr. Karah Charette, DPT
Saturday, February 7th, 2026, 12:15 - 1:45pm
Workshop/Practicum - Feintech Studio
In person and online
As we move through the menopause transition, our bodies ask for new ways of listening and tending. Hormonal shifts can affect the elasticity of our tissues — from the pelvic floor to the tendons — influencing continence, sexual comfort, and our capacity for strength and recovery.
In this 90-minute workshop, pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Karah Charette, PT, DPT, RYT will weave education with gentle, embodied movement practices to support healthy aging from the inside out. We’ll explore:
- How estrogen influences tissue elasticity and muscle coordination
- What happens to the pelvic floor during menopause and how to maintain strength and suppleness
- The connection between hormones, tendons, and the right kind of loading for joint health
- Simple practices to build resilience through breath, awareness, and progressive strength
You’ll leave with practical tools to care for your pelvic health, enhance your movement longevity, and reconnect to a sense of grounded, fluid vitality in your changing body.
(Open to all movers — no prior dance or pelvic floor experience needed.)
Dr. Karah Charette, PT, DPT, RYT (she/her/hers) is a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in pelvic health. She attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Dance. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University. A dancer for more than 20 years, Karah believes in the power of movement and its connection to expression and the human experience. Karah is also a 200 hour registered yoga teacher after doing a training in Thailand based in Ashtanga Vinyasa styled flow. She is certified in classical and contemporary Pilates mat and reformer techniques. Karah also frequently practices different somatic modalities including Body-Mind Centering and is Polyvagal informed in her teachings. Karah co-owns a pelvic health clinic in Oakland and brings her knowledge of clinical anatomy, nervous system informed care, and embodied movement practices to the classes she creates to provide an experience that is welcoming, safe, and healing for all bodies.
Low Impact Movement for Improved Balance, Coordination and Strength
Cathleen McCarthy
Thursday, February 12th, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm
In Person and Online - Skirball Studio
Workshop/Practicum
This class is designed for new exercisers, those returning to exercise, and those who want to ease into movement thoughtfully to re-educate the body. Exercises will include spinal lengthening, joint mobilization, balance exercises and gentle fall recovery to improve balance and strengthening exercises for improved posture and respiration. This workshop will use the following equipment/props: small pilates ball, foam roller, and theraband. For in person participation, props will be provided.
Cathleen McCarthy is faculty emeritus at San Francisco State University where she taught for 23 years. She danced professionally in NYC and the Bay Area after receiving a BFA in Dance from Purchase Conservatory of Dance in New York.
In 2011, she received an “Izzie” (Isadora Dance Award) for “Sustained Achievement”.
She is certified in Pilates, Gyrotonic and is a Z Health Master Trainer with a private practice.
Dance Longer with Cross Training and Recovery
Dr. Selina Shah, MD, FACP, FAMSSM and Rachel Recinos Abair, MS
Saturday, February 14th, 2:45 - 3:45pm
Workshop/Practicum
In person and online - Skirball Studio
Want to leap higher, dance longer, and prevent injury? Cross-training for dancers involves incorporating activities outside of regular dance technique to improve strength, endurance, and agility while preventing injuries. This helps balance muscle development, corrects muscle imbalances, and builds a dancer's stamina and overall performance.
In the dance world, we often equate progress with pushing harder. But from a physiological standpoint, recovery is where adaptation happens. Learn and practice the most critical aspects of recovery to help you prevent injury and dance longer.
Dr. Selina Shah is board certified in sports medicine and internal medicine. She has a broad range of experience from treating Olympic, professional, and recreational athletes to professional and amateur performing artists including dancers, theater performers, and musicians. She specializes in treating medical and musculoskeletal issues in people of all ages.
Dr. Shah has competed in sports and has over 30 years of experience as a dancer. She has incorporated her experience and skills as a sports medicine physician to treat dancer injuries. She is the physician for Contra Costa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Axis Dance Company, New Ballet- San Jose and several of the Bay Area schools.
She is on the Advisory Board for the Bridge Dance Project. She also served on the board of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) from 2011-2019. She has been a member of the Dance/USA TaskForce on Dancer Health since 2007 and served on the executive committee from 2020-2024. She initiated the subcommittee on Cross-Training for Dancers. Additionally, she has published several original research articles on dance medicine including readiness for pointe as well as research and modern dancers. She has also published book chapters and lectured nationally and internationally on several topics on sports and dance medicine.
Rachel Recinos Abair is the Director of the Nancy Pelosi Healthy Dancers Program at ODC. She is a lifelong dancer and brings over 25 years of professional experience in the health, wellness, & fitness industries. She has worked in a variety of markets including health clubs, corporate wellness, campus recreation, and community programs and developed health and fitness, youth, seniors, sports, and volunteer programs and offerings. She earned her M.S. in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Exercise, Nutrition, and Eating Behavior from George Washington University. She holds multiple fitness certifications including ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist.
Rachel is a member of the Dance/USA TaskForce on Dancer Health and Cross-Training for Dancers subcommittee. She has also presented for American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American University, George Washington University, and National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).
The Joyful Body: Stress-Release & Feel-Better Tools for Every Age
Rachel Fleischman, LCSW, REAT
Sunday, February 15th, 2026, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Workshop/Practicum
In person and online - Studio B
Feeling tense? Stiff? Wound tight? This class is designed for anyone who wants to feel calmer, lighter, and more at ease in their body — with no dance experience needed. Rachel guides you through gentle movements, grounding exercises, breath resets, and playful mood-lifters that melt stress and help your body exhale.
It’s warm, pressure-free, and accessible for every age and stage — especially if you’re feeling creaky, overwhelmed, or out of practice. You’ll also get a take-home booklet of easy stress-relief tools you can use anytime.
You’ll walk away with 8 stress-release tools you can use immediately:
- A simple breathing technique that calms your nerves in under one minute.
- A tension-melting shoulder/neck reset for desk posture and anxiety.
- A gentle standing sequence that wakes up circulation and eases stiffness.
- A grounding practice to steady your mind when life feels too fast.
- A “two-minute mood lift” you can do anywhere, even in line at the grocery store.
- A softening practice for tight hips, lower back, and jaw.
- A quick ritual to help you unwind before bed or after a stressful day.
- A take-home mini booklet with all the tips, tools, and feel-better tricks.
Come as you are. Leave feeling lighter, calmer, and more yourself.
All bodies welcome — especially “I haven’t done anything in ages” bodies.
Rachel Fleischman is a trailblazer in the fields of psychotherapy, expressive arts, and somatic healing. With over two decades of experience, she has empowered thousands of individuals to unlock their creativity, embrace self-compassion, and live more fulfilling lives.
As the founder of Bliss Counseling and the visionary behind Dance Your Bliss, a transformative movement system, Rachel works with individuals and couples navigating challenges like anxiety, depression, body image, intimacy, and life transitions. Her holistic approach integrates traditional therapy with innovative methods, including body-centered psychotherapy and mindfulness practices.
Maintaining a Healthy Career Through Nutrition
Libby Parker, MS, RD, CDN, CEDS
Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, 5:00 - 6:00pm
Lecture/Q&A - Online
Libby Parker will help dancers and their parents/teachers with information about maintaining their bodies for a long career through nutrition. With ample time for Q&A, Libby will cover the timing of eating, common nutrition deficiencies in dancers (and how they impact dance), as well as other hot topics like energy drinks.
Bring your questions, and a snack ;)
Libby Parker, MS, RD, CDN, CED-C (she/her) is an international best-selling author, speaker, and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist. Libby is "The Broadway DietitianⓇ" and provides weight-inclusive sports nutrition and eating disorder counseling for theatre athletes. This passion comes from her background performing in musical theatre. Libby recently founded a non-profit providing low-cost health services for theatre workers, and regularly speaks to performing arts organizations on health and nutrition for theatre athletes. She lives in NYC with her dog, Shira. You can find her on Instagram @TheBroadwayDietitian
TheBroadwayDietitian.com
HealthForTheArts.org
Debut book: Permission To Eat
Is It Age or Habit?
Miquel Banket
Thursday, February 19th, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm
In-Person - Contrology Studio inside ODC Commons
Workshop/Practicum
We often blame age for the aches, pains, and limitations we feel in our bodies—but more often than not, it isn’t age at all. It’s habit.
In this eye-opening workshop, we’ll explore the movement patterns, daily behaviors, and long-held imbalances that quietly shape how our bodies function. From the way we sit and stand to the way we walk, work, and even breathe, our habits can either support our well-being or slowly lead us toward discomfort, injury, and breakdown.
Through thoughtful discussion, guided self-assessment, and practical movement exploration rooted in the principles of Classical Pilates, you’ll learn:
- How to distinguish between age-related changes and habit-driven imbalances
- The most common patterns that contribute to pain and injury
- Why awareness is the first—and most powerful—step in prevention
- Simple strategies you can apply to your everyday life to restore balance and strength
This workshop is designed for movers of all ages and levels who are ready to take ownership of how they feel in their bodies. With proper awareness, most injuries can be prevented. Join and discover how small shifts in habit can lead to big changes in longevity, mobility, and quality of movement.
Miquel danced with The Lula Washington Dance Theater, Jazz Antigua, The Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco), the Metropolitan Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, & Arizona Opera. He made his Broadway debut in the musical Amazing Grace and toured France, Belgium, & Russia with pop artist Mylene Farmer.
Miquel received his Pilates Certification in New York through Romanas Pilates. He has worked with all-body types, injuries, and conditions, from young dancers at the School of American Ballet to clients in every age group. He brings his years of experience from the stage and knowledge gained from his injuries or those of past/current clients to his sessions.
Rewriting the Story of Aging: Creativity, Play, and Joy at Every Stage
Kirsten Olshan, MS, NBHWC
Saturday, February 21st, 2026, 12:15pm - 1:15pm
Workshop/Practicum - Feintech Studio
In person and online
As we age, especially while navigating high-demand, high-pressure careers, our inner narrative can drift toward limitation or “slowing down.” But the performing arts invite us to rewrite that story through play, movement, imagination, and creative expression. When we engage interactively dancing, acting, improvising, writing, or simply experimenting we shift from fear to curiosity and from stress to possibility. Creativity sparks optimism, resilience, and a growth mindset, reminding us that every stage of life offers space for reinvention. The arts support healthy aging by strengthening cognitive function, regulating emotions, building community, and awakening joy.
In this workshop, we’ll tap into all of that together through playful activities, writing prompts, movement, and shared reflection. We’ll practice bringing joy alive in our bodies and minds, exploring how creativity can lighten stress and energize us at any age. And most importantly, we’ll have fun as we reimagine what it means to grow older with vitality, purpose, and a spirit of play.
Throughout her career, Kirsten Olshan has explored what enables individuals to perform and feel their best across diverse, high-pressure environments. She has had lived experience in high-stress settings, from extreme sports to performing arts, and has worked directly with those on their path to becoming officers, as well as athletes, performing artists, and military personnel of all levels. With a background in sports psychology, performance science, and movement-based practices including Pilates and yoga, she is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC) and Resilience at Work (R@W) certified master resilience trainer and performance expert with the DOD and a certified pilates and yoga educator, helping individuals and teams cultivate resilience, emotional regulation, and confidence under pressure. Her coaching bridges science and self-awareness, empowering people to rise forward, perform with purpose, and recover with strength.
Bloom - A Wellness App Made For Dancers, By Dancers
Arthur Erlanson and Lincoln Sharp
Sunday, February 22nd, 10 - 11am PST
Lecture/Q&A - Online
In this session, we’ll explore the mental and emotional realities of dance
from the perspective of two working professionals with the Royal Swedish Ballet. We’ll share the challenges we’ve faced along the way, from training in school to company life, and the tools that helped us manage pressure, self-doubt, and the demands of the studio.
We’ll also introduce Bloom, our wellness app developed with direct feedback from the dance community. Bloom supports dancers through sleep, cross-training, and everyday wellbeing challenges. By tracking mood, sleep, and training load, dancers can recognize patterns before they become problems and make informed choices that reduce burnout and promote recovery. Understanding these areas helps dancers strengthen not only their training, but their overall wellbeing in daily life.
Arthur Erlanson: I’m a professional ballet dancer with the Royal Swedish Opera and co-founder of Harmoni Technologies. My career has shown me both the beauty and the hidden struggles of the arts, intense physical demands, constant pressure, and quiet battles with mental health.
That’s why we started Harmoni: to give young dancers tools to care for their minds as well as their bodies. Our mission is about more than performance; it’s about resilience, healthier relationships, and a sustainable life in and beyond dance.
By combining personal experience with technology, we’re making mental well-being practical and accessible, reshaping dance culture for the next generation.
Lincoln Sharp: I’m a professional ballet dancer with the Royal Swedish Ballet and co-founder of Harmoni Technologies. I trained in Australia, competed internationally at the Prix de Lausanne, and continued my education at the John Cranko School in Germany. Those years taught me discipline and artistry, along with how much mental strain dancers quietly carry.
Ballet celebrates physical strength, but the pressure, stress, and self-doubt behind the scenes are just as demanding. Real progress only happens when mental wellness is supported.
That’s why we created Harmoni Technologies: to give dancers the tools and insights they need to nurture their mental resilience alongside their physical skill, and to build the balance that fuels long-term performance and growth.
Nourishing Dance: Conversation, Connection, & Community
Monika Saigal, MS, RD, CEDS-C, CDN
Sunday, February 22nd, 1:15 - 2:45pm
Online
Join us for an engaging conversation with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, former professional dancer, and author, Monika Saigal, MS, RD, CEDS-C, CDN, moderated by ODC Health Initiatives Program Director, Rachel Recinos Abair. We’ll delve into a selection of topics from Monika’s new book, Nourishing Dance: An Essential Guide on Nutrition, Body Image, and Eating Disorders, including how to help dancers fuel optimally, nurture a healthy relationship with food, and build more balanced and resilient body image. Recommended for ages 12+ and parents are welcome. Through an interactive discussion with the audience, we’ll explore how we can come together to build a brighter, healthier future for our dance community.
Get your copy of Nourishing Dance! Links to order and more info available at: https://nourishingdance.com/
Monika Saigal, MS, RD, CEDS-C, CDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, and former professional dancer. She specializes in dancer wellness and the prevention and treatment of eating disorders/disordered eating and under-fueling. Monika is passionate about building a dance world that better supports and nurtures dancers’ health and well-being. She has extensive experience providing nutrition counseling to dancers and performing artists in her private practice and working with dance organizations—from small studios to world-renowned schools, conservatories, and companies. Monika currently works with the San Francisco Ballet School and Company and was the dietitian for the American Ballet Theatre JKO School and Studio Company for four years. Prior to this, she spent eight years as a member of the Performance Nutrition team at The Juilliard School.
To better address the health needs of dancers, Monika created and regularly delivers the Head to Pointe® Workshop series, which includes workshops for dancers as well as specialized trainings for dance educators, staff, parents, and health professionals. Monika has been featured as a nutrition expert in various dance publications and frequently presents on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders in dancers at academic conferences. She is the author of the book Nourishing Dance: An Essential Guide on Nutrition, Body Image, and Eating Disorders, which was published by Routledge in June 2024.
Dancing for a Lifetime: Keeping Every Body Safe
Dr. Alyssa Herrera-Set, PT, DPT and Ashley Burdick
Sunday, February 22nd, 3:00-4:30pm, 2026
In Person and online - Studio B
Workshop/Practicum
A dynamic, age-by-age look at how to keep dancers healthy from first plié to lifelong practice. Led by physical therapists specializing in dance medicine, this talk breaks down the top injury risks and prevention strategies for each developmental stage, including early childhood alignment issues, training during growth spurts, navigating the demands of pre-professional and professional dance, and maintaining strength, bone density, and longevity in adulthood. Presented by Dr. Alyssa Herrera-Set, dance medicine physical therapist, and Ashley Burdick, UCSF Physical Therapy student and retired dancer.
Alyssa Herrera-Set is the owner of On the Move Physical Therapy, a lecturer at University of California, San Francisco, the co-founder of an online women’s health company called Papaya Health, and the co-founder of gymSAFE, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of gymnasts. She is passionate about detecting movement patterns that lead to injury. She enjoys building programs that help dancers and athletes develop good movement habits. Dr. Herrera-Set focused her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley on education and ethnic studies. She received her master’s and doctorate degrees in physical therapy through UCSF/SFSU. She earned a Sports Physiotherapy diploma from the International Olympic Committee. Her movement philosophy is influenced by her lifelong participation in dance and gymnastics, her experience as a dance and gymnastics teacher, and her pilates education through Polestar Pilates.
Ashley Burdick is currently a student at the UCSF / SFSU Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She is primarily trained in ballet and performed with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara before moving home to the Bay Area. Ashley performed with eMotion Arts, FLIGHT Dance Collective, and in various works by freelance choreographers throughout the Bay Area while earning her B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of San Francisco.