Books Recommended by Healthy Dancer Canada

Healthy Dancer Canada and Human Kinetics are partners with a mutual vision and goal to provide dance and health professionals with access to valuable resources. As Human Kinetics associates, HDC is able to offer our members exceptional discounts on books HK through the Newsletter Book Club. Become a member of HDC.

Below are some of the books we recommend.

Safe Dance Practice

By Edel Quin, Sonia Rafferty, Charlotte Tomlinson
2015
Safe Dance Practice bridges the gap between research and application for dancers and dance educators at all levels. The book presents integrated guidelines and principles that will maximize physical and mental well-being without compromising creativity and expression.

Dancer Wellness

By Mary Virginia Wilmerding, Donna Krasnow, International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS
2017
Dancer Wellness, created by the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, offers guidance on the foundations, mental components, and physical aspects of dancer wellness. Readers will learn concepts and strategies to develop as dancers and to create their own dancer wellness plan.

Low Back Disorders,
3rd ed.

By Stuart McGill
2016
Low Back Disorders, Third Edition With Web Resource, written by internationally recognized low back specialist Stuart McGill, guides readers through the assessment and treatment of low back pain, providing evidence-based research on the best methods of rehabilitation and prevention of future injury.

A picture of the Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology book

Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, 2nd ed.

By Karen Clippinger
2016
Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, Second Edition, retains its scientific perspective while offering greater accessibility to a wider audience. The streamlined approach makes the content more accessible in a single undergraduate course, and the text comes with a suite of online ancillaries.

Motor Learning and Control for Dance

By Donna Krasnow, Virginia Wilmerding
2015
Motor Learning and Control for Dance is the first textbook to blend dance science, somatic practices, and pedagogy and address motor learning theory from a dance perspective. It focuses on motor development, motor control, and motor learning while showcasing principles and practices for students and teachers.

Dance Psychology for Artistic and Performance Excellence

By Jim Taylor, Elena Estanol
2015
Dance Psychology for Artistic and Performance Excellence helps dancers develop psychological strength to maximize their performance. The book covers the key mental aspects of dance performance and offers practical exercises that will make dancers’ minds their most powerful tools.

A picture of the Preventing Dance Injuries book

Preventing Dance Injuries, 2nd ed.

By Ruth Solomon, John Solomon,
Sandra Cerney Minton
2005
Recognized as a foundational publication in 1990, Preventing Dance Injuries has been updated in this second edition with significant new material to guide dance medicine specialists and educators in promoting the physical and psychological well-being of dancers.
Preventing Dance Injuries, Second Edition, contains comprehensive coverage of dance injuries, including screening, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

A picture of the Conditioning-with-Imagery book

Conditioning with Imagery for Dancers

By Donna Krasnow, Jordana Deveau
2011
Conditioning with Imagery for Dancers is an invaluable resource for dancers and dance educators. The book includes detailed descriptions of the purpose, form, and rhythm of more than eighty exercises, fully illustrated with step-by-step photographs. Published by Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.

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Dance Anatomy, 2nd ed.

By Jacqui Greene Haas
2018
Dance Anatomy is a visually stunning presentation of more than 100 of the most effective dance, movement, and performance exercises, each designed to promote correct alignment, improved placement, proper breathing, and prevention of common injuries. The exercises are drawn in stunning detail, capturing the dancer in motion and highlighting the active muscles associated with each movement so you can develop and strengthen different areas of the body. You will clearly see how muscular development translates into greater poise and elegance on the stage.

The Warm-Up

By Ian Jeffreys
2019
The Warm-Up is the first book to describe the science of the warm-up and provide guidelines to maximize its effectiveness through the process of constructing effective RAMP-based warm-ups. The RAMP system--Raise, Activate, Mobilize, and Potentiate—looks at the warm-up not only as preparation for the upcoming session, but also as tool for athletic development that can cultivate the skills and movement capacities needed to excel in sport. RAMP has become a standard warm-up system recommended by the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and is included in professional resources developed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

A picture of the Teaching Methods and Curriculum Design book

Dance Teaching Methods and Curriculum Design, 2nd Ed.

By Gayle Kassing, Danielle Jay-Kischenbaum
2021
Dance Teaching Methods and Curriculum Design presents a conceptual model of dance education that embraces dance as an art form and disseminates it through learning experiences in dancing, dance making, and dance appreciation. Through this book, dance educators will broaden their understanding of the dance content that is appropriate for their students and their educational setting.