Belmont Dance/Physical Therapy Clinic Bridges Classroom Learning with Real-World Practice

Interdisciplinary partnership provides DPT students with specialized training while giving dancers the athlete-level health care they deserve

Building on last year's success, Belmont University's School of Physical Therapy partnered with the Belmont Dance Company for a pop-up clinic Saturday, Aug. 23. The three-hour session brought together 18 third-year doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students and 30 undergraduate dancers for individualized health screenings and movement assessments. 

The clinic, spearheaded by Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Lindsay Ison and Associate Professor of Dance Debbie Belue, addresses a critical gap in health care for performing artists while providing students invaluable hands-on experience with a specialized population. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

"Working with dancers gave me a deeper appreciation for how art and athleticism intersect to create unique clinical needs," said Sarah Shanahan, a third-year DPT student. "One moment that stood out was sharing exercise-based recommendations with a dancer who eagerly asked follow-up questions about how our findings related to his anatomy and performance."

For DPT students, the experience offered something no classroom could replicate: the challenge of adapting clinical skills to meet the specialized demands of performing artists. 

"This clinic strengthened my confidence in screening movement quickly and effectively in a real-world setting," said DPT student Whitney Tapscott, who has a personal dance background but had never worked with dancers clinically. "Beyond the clinical assessments, it also taught me the value of conversation as a therapeutic tool." 

DPT student Bailey Langkan noted how the experience reinforced the importance of sport-specific rehabilitation. She recalled working with a dancer who had been in physical therapy for a back injury but whose therapist lacked experience in dance. 

"Her plan of care lacked sport-specific exercises or a structured progression for return to performance," Langkan said. "This semester — through her participation in the dance-focused tasks at our pop-up clinic — was actually the first time she attempted movement in her art form since the injury." 

Targeted Recommendations for Immediate Implementation 

The dancers received equally valuable insights. John Turelli, participating for his second year, appreciated tracking his progress over time. 

"This year's clinic encouraged me to work on flexibility and stretching, while last year focused on strength training," Turelli said. "One DPT student told me that the muscles in my calf are much tighter than the average person's, so I've started incorporating calf stretches into my post-dance cool down." 

For dancer Emma Ask, the clinic provided specific guidance she could immediately apply. Her screening revealed she was relying too heavily on her outer toes for balance instead of engaging her big toe properly. 

"Even while walking, I am thinking of pressing through this medial part of my foot, and I can already feel that muscle working harder and getting stronger," Ask said. "I can already hold balances longer and achieve a higher level of stability from the ground up." 

Nina Greco found the screening helped her understand how interconnected her body's systems are in dance performance. 

"I learned that a lack of quad strength was impacting my turnout at the hips, which in turn caused my knees to rotate inward and my feet to roll in when standing in first position," Greco said. "By identifying these connections and knowing what to strengthen outside of rehearsal, I'm able to support my technique more effectively." 

Ashlee Elliott, also a returning participant, showed measurable improvement from last year's recommendations. 

"My cardio test went from above average to below average, meaning my heart rate was able to recover faster this year," Elliott said. "Compared to last year, I feel a lot stronger and more capable." 

Addressing the Gap in Specialized Care for Performing Artists 

The clinic addressed dancers' need for specialized health care that understands their unique demands.  

"Dancers are athletes, and just like basketball or volleyball players, we dedicate countless hours of training and passion to our craft," Greco said. "Having regular access to specialized support would not only prevent injury but also help us reach our fullest potential as performers." 

From the DPT students' perspective, the clinic reinforced the complexity of treating performing artists.  

"Treating dancers requires integrating an understanding of biomechanics, artistry ,and the psychological importance of performance,” Langkan said. “It reinforced that physical therapy in this field is not just about returning someone to function, but about enabling them to sustain peak performance while minimizing risk across an entire season." 

Building Bridges Between Disciplines 

The clinic and partnership between DPT and dance demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in higher education, creating learning opportunities that benefit both programs while serving the broader campus community. As DPT students gain specialized skills and dancers receive targeted health care, the partnership models how academic programs can work together to enhance student success across disciplines.