The Care and Feeding of a Dancer: What You Need to Know on and Off the Stage

This book covers a wide range of concerns--from how to avoid injury to what to eat. It is one of the few nutrition books for dancers that encourages a sensible approach to eating that will not result in eating disorders.

Toni Tickel Branner has three books out on the "Care & Feeding of ...". While there are differences in this book (the quotes and some non-soccer advice) a lot of the language is exactly the same for this book on dance. My first review was of her book for the soccer player. So, I don't think you need all three. Just pick the one that is most focused on what it is you do. Just as she has adapted her text, I have only slightly altered my review. We all know that exercising our bodies is good for us. We also know that real life is full of competition and there is winning and losing in all that we do. Dance is obviously very physical, and has the benefit of being an outlet for artistic expression. As the author notes, "you learn to push yourself to your fullest potential, learn to take criticism as well as compliments. You feel pain, you experience success, you deal with defeat, and you gain irreplaceable friendships with other dancers." The author takes a responsible approach to fitness, nutrition, and dancing to enhance your child's life, not consume it. Besides her own experience as an exercise physiologist, she has a board of medical and exercise experts who, I assume, looked over this material. She also realizes that dance has a progression to it has different skill requirements according to age or grade level. Her advice for learning skills, and warming up take all this in mind. I particularly like her discussion of common injury types and what you can do to prevent them. She also discusses the mental and emotional aspects of dance, including handling stress. Her food advice is quite good; if a bit too vegetarian for my tastes, but nothing here will be anything but good for you. She also deals with body image and distorted eating, which is especially important in dance where being lean and even light is so important. The author also guides you through getting the most from soccer camp, how to be a happy and supportive family for your dancer. She also has a chapter on life lessons that can be learned from dance and art. Good stuff. Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Although the title indicates that this book is useful only for the caregiver of a dancer that is incorrect. The emphasis on proper nutrition is something that all people should learn and practice and the advice on activities such as how to properly warm up and work out is applicable to all serious physical activity. Finally, the discussion of the value of dance competitions in building social skills, responsibility, a sense of achievement and how to deal with failure is an additional positive aspect of the book. Note: The Branners are also the authors of another book with the title "The Care and Feeding of a Soccer Player." Most of the text in that book is identical to this one, so if you buy one you for all practical purposes have the other.