A gap in support: conservatory dancers say they don’t receive the same level of athletic training as other athletes

  Students and professors in the UMKC Conservatory dance department are seeking stronger support for student dancers, saying they don’t receive an equal amount of resources compared to other athletes on campus.

 Despite the conservatory being a top-tier school, dance students in the conservatory do not have access to athletic trainers as students in the athletics department do, and they often have to rely on outside sources to take care of their bodies, including dance-related injuries. 

  “It really scares me when I see an injury happen, and I feel like they’re not getting the correct treatment that they need right away because we can’t expect our professors to know what to do or us to know what to do, we need those trained professionals,” said Tristen Bogart, a senior dance major.

  According to Bogart, students typically spend 2-5 hours per day in dance classes and 2-4 hours in rehearsals. 

  Bogart, who was on the dance team her freshman year at UMKC, says that she had access to UMKC’s athletic training team in her time on the team.

  “I would go to them, and the physical trainer would treat me, and it was really nice because they had access to all the equipment that a physical therapy office would have also,” said Bogart. 

  She also shared that she is more susceptible to injuries after having gotten multiple before.

  “The injuries just kind of add up, especially if they’re on the same leg like mine, like I kind of now have a bad leg that I have to work with, even this year,” said Bogart. “I’ve been working and battling my ankle injuries because it’s just become more of a chronic issue since I’ve sprained them so many times in the past dancing.”

  While students may not have access to readily available professionals, Assistant Adjunct Professor Kendra Gage teaches a kinesiology and dance science course. She is also a Physical Therapist for Performance Rehab, who offers free, once-a-month one-on-ones for dancers in the conservatory. 

 Adjunct Dance Instructor Christina Burton says that Gage is a helping hand for situations where a student is injured and doesn’t have anyone to immediately help.

 “Our PT professor is either at the shows or she will answer a call at 10 p.m. to say this is where you need to go. This is what she needs to do,” said Burton. 

  While funding is a known factor in the gap in support, Burton says that she would like to see more support for her students from professionals who understand their needs.

  “The biggest thing would be someone who understands dancers’ needs. There’s a whole other level of what’s different from an athlete who’s playing basketball, versus a dancer who needs to be able to put their leg up by their ear or turn multiple times,” said Burton.

  During UMKC’s Giving Day on Mar. 4, the conservatory received over $2 million in donations, making up nearly half of the total donations.

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