Jill Marlow Krutzkamp
You may be thinking, “What inspired me to take up this blog?” Well the answer is not so simple, but I will do my best at keeping it that way.
Quite simply, I’m a lover of ballet, or health, or both! I’m thankfully entering my 11th season as a professional ballet dancer after spending one season with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and 8 seasons with the Cincinnati Ballet. I’m currently in the midst of my 2nd season with the Kansas City Ballet. Recently, I have also started working with Quixotic – an inventive group of artists that are putting on some amazing shows all over the country.
Throughout my ballet career, I have been taking college classes, and in the fall of 2007 I decided after an injury that blatantly threatened my ballet career, to major in Health Education. Luckily, I returned to dance and after a 9 year stretch of tackling college class after college class, loop hole after loop hole, I graduated in August 2011 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Education with a focus in community health from the University of Cincinnati. From this day forward, I will always think there is no animal better than a bearcat! Well except for my golden retriever named Maddie!
I have always felt that dance has lacked the health attention that it deserves. Other than a nutrition talk here and there (which let’s be honest – is not always so helpful), there is just not enough focus on the educational aspect of a dancer’s total health.
My intent of dancehealthier is to share informative ideas, stories and information that come my way. Sometimes the topics will obviously and directly relate to “the dancer’s life,” and others will seem more “health” related, but the integration will always remain present. I dedicate dancehealthier to all those “hungry” dancers who are in constant reach for more (we can’t help that we are perfectionists). Whether you read and never look back, or become an avid reader, my hope is to educate, motivate and inspire you in some way throughout your own personal quest for “that more” – whatever it may be.
Many thanks to:
My Husband- Anthony Krutzkamp, Lovely Sis- Jennifer, Lil’ Bro- Thomas Jr., Big Bro – Dane Springmeyer, Dad- Thomas Sr., Mom- Martha, Mentors- Jill Vonderhaar Nader, Mr. Nowak, Timothy Draper, PapPap and Gram, and my friends
We admire your passion for dance and your tenacity to learn why dancers become the artists they are! We will always cherish your demand as you marched into our “room” and requested “You have to help me make my dream come true as I want to be a professional ballerina” You were 12 years old! You were meant to be just that and so much more in the dance world! Your injury was meant to be and not only did it make you a stronger dancer but a well balanced educator of dance, wellness and well being. Congratulations on your new endeavors. Mama and Dada
I found the link to your blog on Tutus & Tea, and am so happy to find another ballet blogger focused on health and nutrition issues. I came back to ballet after 20 years, when I was struggling with a severe case of arthritis. After trying several different exercise routines, I found that ballet was the only activity that got the symptoms under control, and I was inspired to get my teaching certification at ABT, whose new National Training Curriculum was designed with significant input from the medical and physical therapy community. I now teach, and write about ballet from the perspective of one who sees it as a healing activity and a healthful lifestyle choice, hoping to make it more accessible. I’m looking forward to learning more from your blog.
Carla Escoda
http://ballettothepeople.com/
Thanks Carla. I’m glad that you have found dancehealthier to be helpful. I appreciate your support.
I too went down the route of studying health education alongside my work in the dance profession. And I find it really enhances my work with dance teachers. Looking at dance from a health education perspective is endlessly fascinating. Great to know that other dance professionals are in health education too. Good luck with what you are doing.
Sho
Thanks for sharing. I feel the same way. . . It’s good to know that other dance professionals have also taken a health route. Stay in touch.