Ballet Science Blog

Recently, a comment circulated online from actor Timothée Chalamet claiming that “no one cares about ballet.”

Whether the remark was serious or joking, it sparked a lot of conversation in the dance world. Instead of debating the comment itself, this video asks a deeper question: Why should people care about ballet?

When you look at ballet through the lenses of art, science, culture, and human movement, it becomes clear that ballet is much more than a niche performance genre. Ballet sits at a fascinating intersection of storytelling, music, athleticism, neuroscience, and human expression.

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, we explore why ballet matters not just to dancers… but to society as a whole.

Topics include:

• Ballet as a universal storytelling language
• The power of live performance and orchestral music
• Ballet as elite human athletic performance
• What biomechanics and neuroscience reveal about dance
• How ballet training influences balance, coordination, and motor control
• Why supporting the arts matters for culture and society

March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month. Can ballet help improve balance and coordination in people with MS?

In this video, former professional ballerina and biomechanics researcher Caroline Simpkins, PhD, explores a fascinating 2018 study investigating how a targeted ballet training program may help reduce ataxia and improve balance in individuals with mild to moderate MS.

Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, often impairing coordination, balance, and walking ability. Researchers wanted to explore whether the structured movement patterns of classical ballet could help retrain motor control and improve neurological function.

In this video you’ll learn:

• What multiple sclerosis is and how it affects movement
• Why dance (and especially ballet) may benefit neurological conditions
• How researchers designed a 16-week targeted ballet rehabilitation program
• How motion capture technology was used to measure movement changes
• The surprising improvements in balance, coordination, and gait smoothness

This research highlights how ballet can be more than an art form… it may also serve as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and neurological training. Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, researcher, or someone interested in the science of movement, this video explores how dance and neuroscience intersect in unexpected ways.

Have you ever left ballet class feeling mentally exhausted… even if it wasn’t the most physically intense class? That’s not random!

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, Dr. Caroline Simpkins (former professional ballerina and PhD in biomechanics) explains the neuroscience behind ballet training and why your brain thrives on it.

We explore:

• How the motor cortex initiates movement
• The cerebellum’s role in balance
• How the basal ganglia automate choreography
• Neuroplasticity and motor learning in action
• Why ballet is high-level cognitive multitasking
• The connection between dance, executive function, and healthy aging

Ballet isn’t just muscle training. It’s neural pathway training. From coordination and rhythm to memory and spatial awareness, ballet challenges multiple brain systems simultaneously, which is exactly why it can feel so mentally demanding.

And across the lifespan? That complexity matters!

A commercial airline pilot… and an adult ballet student!

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Captain Christopher Marici to talk about his life in aviation, how he discovered adult ballet, and why he believes ballet is one of the most powerful long-term investments you can make for your body and brain.

We discuss:

• ✈️ What a pilot’s day-to-day is really like
• ✈️ The mental load of the job
• ✈️ What it’s like to be a true beginner as an adult
• ✈️ Why adult ballet can be a “reset” after high-stress work

What if the way you walk down the street could reveal whether you trained in ballet?

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I break down my published research from the journal Gait & Posture, examining how ballet training influences walking biomechanics across the lifespan.

What makes Orza ballet shoes different from a traditional ballet slipper?

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I’m joined by Seth and Sarah Orza (Pacific Northwest Ballet, New York City Ballet, School of American Ballet). After suffering an injury while dancing with New York City Ballet (NYCB), Seth Orza began adding padding to his ballet shoes to stay onstage. Noticing many dancers doing the same, he asked a simple question: Why hasn’t the ballet slipper evolved?

That question led to the creation of ORZA Pro, a ballet shoe designed with integrated shock absorption and support, built to meet the demands of today’s dancers. What started as a personal solution is now helping dancers move more comfortably from class to rehearsal to performance.

We discuss:

• How the Orza brand was born from real injury + performance needs
• How their shoe integrates shock-absorbing tech without changing the ballet aesthetic
• What testing they’ve done so far (including biomechanics + survey data)
• Why ballet footwear has stayed so traditional for so long

Pilates is everywhere in the dance world… but what actually makes it so effective for ballet dancers?

In this Ballet Science Podcast episode, I’m joined by Kerry Shea, Pilates instructor at the School of American Ballet (NYC), to break down how Pilates supports alignment, core control, coordination, injury prevention, and performance… from young pre-professionals to seasoned pros.

We cover:

• What is Pilates? (and how mat vs apparatus work differs)
• What “the core” really means for dancers
• Why Pilates is especially helpful for hypermobility
• How SAB integrates Pilates into a holistic health + wellness model
• Common dancer patterns Pilates helps fix
• Why “just doing more ballet” can reinforce dysfunctional patterns
• How to start Pilates safely + what certifications to look for in an instructor

If you are a dancer, chances are you’ve been told you have a bunion, you’re going to get a bunion, or you’ve spent way too much time staring at your big toe, wondering if that bump is “normal.”

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, we take a biomechanics-based look at bunions in ballet dancers.

You will learn:
📌 What is a bunion?
📌 Why are bunions so common in ballet dancers?
📌 The difference between having a bunion and having bunion pain
📌 How ballet shoe and pointe shoe fit influences symptoms
📌 What dancers can do to manage bunions and reduce irritation

Have you ever thought, “I’ve always wanted to try ballet, but I’m too old” … or “I didn’t start as a kid, so what’s the point now?” This episode is for you.

In this Ballet Science Podcast episode, former professional ballerina and biomechanics PhD Caroline Simpkins breaks down how to start ballet as an adult from a science-based, body-respectful perspective.

We cover:

• Why ballet is absolutely accessible for adults
• The neurological, balance, and strength benefits of ballet
• How ballet supports health across the lifespan
• How to choose the right adult beginner ballet class
• What to wear (and what you don’t need)
• What to expect in your very first ballet class
• Why ballet is for all bodies (including men)
• How often should adult beginners take class

Blisters are often treated like a rite of passage in ballet… but from a biomechanics perspective, they’re actually important feedback about how your foot is interacting with your shoe. If you’ve ever tried to dance with a painful blister, you know how much it can affect balance, confidence, and technique.

Instead of just “toughing it out,” this episode helps dancers understand blisters as a modifiable mechanical issue, not a weakness.

In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, you will learn:

• What blisters actually are (biologically and mechanically)
• Why ballet dancers get blisters so frequently
• Key differences between toe blisters and heel blisters
• How friction, moisture, repetition, and shoe design contribute
• Safe blister treatment strategies for dancers
• Why pointe shoe fit is one of the biggest predictors of blister formation
• Practical prevention techniques, including toe taping, corn pads, and moisture management