Almost one in six young dancers leave training due to injury or poor health. A new evidence‑based website hopes to change that.
A new website has been launched to help young Australian dancers better protect their health, thanks to a research collaboration between Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), UNSW Sydney and the Royal Academy of Dance Australia.
Wellbeing for Dancers is a free evidence‑based online platform designed for dancers aged 14–21, offering practical guides on nutrition, training, recovery and more.
Although dance is one of the most popular activities for teenage girls in Australia, almost one in six young dancers end up leaving training because of injury or poor health.
Project lead WAAPA Exercise Scientist Dr Joanna Nicholas said the team created the platform to address long‑recognised challenges around dancer health education.
“Young dancers are incredibly dedicated, but they often don’t have access to trustworthy health information,” she said.
Associate Professor Sara Grafenauer, Academic Program Lead, Nutrition & Dietetics at UNSW, said young dancers had limited guidance on how to fuel and care for their bodies during demanding training years.
“We wanted to create something that helps young dancers and their parents make informed decisions so they can stay well and enjoy their dancing for longer. Staying active is vital for all young people, and we know young women in particular face higher drop‑off rates in sport, so giving dancers the right support at the right time is incredibly important.”
Key contributors to injury and poor health include gaps in nutrition knowledge, limited awareness of menstrual and hormonal health, outdated training approaches that contribute to overtraining, online misinformation, and inconsistent understanding of safe dance practices among teachers.
A/Prof. Grafenauer said improving nutrition literacy was one practical way to reduce injury risk and support performance.
“Many dancers participate in after-school dance classes, and many parents are unsure what foods to provide to help bridge the time between lunch and dinner, without over-filling little tummies,” she said.
“Nutrition misinformation is everywhere, and dancers are particularly vulnerable to it,” she added. “This resource gives them a reliable foundation with practical, age‑appropriate information that helps them fuel well, recover well, and feel confident in their bodies.”
Wellbeing for Dancers was co‑designed with Australian dance teachers, dancers and health professionals to ensure it is practical, relevant and accessible. The website offers:
“Our goal was to create a resource that empowers dancers, teachers and families with clear, evidence‑based guidance so they can support long, healthy and enjoyable dance careers,” Dr Nicholas said.
“There is an opportunity for young dancers to progress to a pre‑professional level of training. However, consistent education about health and nutrition alongside dance training is often lacking.”
She said the scale of participation and injury in dance shows why such a resource was needed.
“In Australia, dance is the second most popular organised physical activity for girls under 15 years of age and remains popular for females 15 years and over,” Dr Nicholas said.
“However, research shows that up to 84% of dancers experience an injury during their career, and 15% leave dance due to injury or poor health.”
The project team plans to expand the platform with new content, interactive workshops, and professional development modules for dance teachers.
They also hope to track improvements in health literacy, confidence and adoption of safe dance practices across the sector.
“This new website provides unlimited free access to education not only for performance and longevity in dance, but also to protect and promote long‑term health,” said A/Prof. Grafenauer.