The Jerwood Centre: Supporting dancers on tour

Managing injuries when they happen

One of the physio team’s key responsibilities is responding to any injuries that occur during rehearsals, stage calls or performances. Fortunately, serious injuries are rare in ballet, but the team is prepared for any situation. When touring to cities, ambulance services and hospitals are usually close by, meaning dancers have quick access to emergency care if needed. 

Usually, two physiotherapists travel with the Company on tour, while the rest of the team remains in Birmingham to support any dancers undergoing rehabilitation, or those who have returned to base after getting injured on tour.

We travel with equipment such as ankle boots, splints, strapping tape and crutches so we can manage common musculoskeletal injuries, such as a sprained ankle, in house quickly and effectively. For more serious injuries we use A&E services at local hospitals. Before an ambulance arrives, we assess the injury and stabilise the dancer ready for transport. If a dancer sustains an injury that prevents them from continuing with performances, we usually transport them safely back to Birmingham so their recovery can be managed at the Jerwood Centre. There, the team can organise scans, orthopaedic consultations as needed and commence rehabilitation.

Supporting performance during a busy tour

Most of the physio team’s work on tour involves performance optimisation and injury maintenance. Touring places unique demands on dancers; frequent travel, unfamiliar environments and a packed schedule of rehearsals and performances can all contribute to fatigue and minor aches or overuse injuries. Physiotherapy sessions on tour often include soft-tissue manipulation, stretching, joint mobilisation, taping, dry needling and advice on exercises and fuelling that can help dancers stay strong and mobile during the run.

While dancers usually follow structured strength programmes at home, maintaining a full gym routine on tour is often unrealistic. Between travel, rehearsals, performances, costume/makeup preparation and navigating new cities, time and energy is limited. Instead, the focus during a tour week is on helping dancers maintain their bodies, manage injuries, recover optimally and perform safely, rather than on building strength.

Helping dancers recover between performances

Recovery is another important part of the physio team’s work. We travel with equipment designed to support recovery, including Normatec compression boots, which help improve lymphatic circulation and aid muscle recovery. Ice is also readily available at venues, allowing dancers to use ice baths or cold therapy in their hotel rooms if needed. Furthermore, we provide electrolyte supplements and ongoing advice about hydration, nutrition and refuelling between performances to help dancers maintain energy levels throughout a demanding schedule.

Supporting the whole company

Although the dancers are the team’s primary focus, we are also available to support the wider Company when needed. For example, members of the orchestra occasionally seek treatment for aches, strains or injuries while on tour. These visits often tend to be occasional rather than ongoing as our orchestra is not based in Birmingham. We help manage the immediate issue and offer advice for longer-term care once the individual returns home. 

We also support members of the technical crew with acute injuries and any issues that require longer-term rehabilitation. When these individuals are already undergoing treatment with the Jerwood Centre team, we continue to follow up with them while on tour, helping them manage symptoms and maintain their rehabilitation programmes alongside the demands of the production schedule. 

Whenever possible, appointments for the wider Company are scheduled around ballet class and rehearsals so dancers can always have access to treatment within their limited windows of availability.

A mobile physio clinic

When touring, the physiotherapy team essentially brings a miniature version of the Jerwood Centre with them. Our setup typically includes treatment beds, soft-tissue therapy equipment, dry needling supplies, strapping and taping materials, splints, crutches and recovery equipment such as compression boots and ice boxes.

Gym equipment is kept to a minimum, as the focus during short tours is maintenance and recovery rather than strength building. However, if a dancer is returning from injury and following a structured rehabilitation programme, we may help locate a gym at the tour venue and supervise training sessions.